With the University of Alberta Golden Bear’s preseason coming to a close on the road this weekend, with a game against the NCAA’s University Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (streamed live at NCHC.tv), it is a good time to start previewing the Bear’s CIS conference the Canada West. Alberta finished second to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the regular season in 2015-16 and also lost to the Huskies in the Canada West playoff final.
This is part one of a two part preview of the Canada West conference. The second post will be published at the same time next Thursday. Below gives a brief review of each team for the 2015-16 season, their preseason, and their new recruits.
University of Regina Cougars
7-21 in 2015-16, last in the Canada West. They were not ranked in the top-10 nationally last season. Three of team’s leading scorers (McNulty, Coleshaw, & Fowlie) will be returning this season. However, their top scorer, McNulty, only had 9 goals and 16 points in 27 games in 2015-16.
New Recruits
- Tyler King, defence- Played 5 parts of 5 WHL seasons and split time last year between the WHL’s Kootney Ice and the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins.
- Colton Sparrow, forward- Comes to the Cougars from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks where he had 9 points in 36 games last season.
- Kirk Bear, defence- Spent time in both the WHL and SJHL. Split time between Melville and Melfort of the SJHL last season picking up 19 points in 53 games.
- Isaac Schacher, defence- The huge 6.05 defenceman is a three year WHL veteran who finished his junior career in the AJHL last season with the Drumheller Dragons.
- Logan Harland, forward- This guy has been everywhere; he has played in the WHL (Vancouver & Saskatoon), AJHL (Bonnyville), SJHL (Flin Flon), QMJHL (Acadie-Bathurst), and the MJHL (OCN). He had 10 goals in 59 games for the Saskatoon Blades in 2013-14. Last season he scored 39 goals and 95 points for the MJHL’s OCN Blizzard.
- Tristan Frei, forward; Played three seasons for the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL before joining the Cougars. Scored a career high 35 goals and 73 points in 57 games last season.
- Carter Hansen, defence- Spent 5 seasons in the WHL playing for both the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Red Deer Rebels. Spent the last season in the SJHL split between the Melville Millionaires and the Melfort Mustangs.
- Gray Marr, forward- After two seasons with the Humbolt Broncos of the SJHL Marr spent last season with the junior A Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL.
- Brandon Halbgewachs, defence- Split last season between the Estevan Bruins and the La Ronge Ice Wolves of the SJHL.
- Tyson Predinchuk, forward- Spent his junior career mixed between the WHL and the SJHL with stops in: Melville (SJHL), Spokane (WHL), Portland (WHL), and Estevan (SJHL).
The Cougars went 0-4 in the pre-season. They start their season on on the road on October 14th versus the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Their first meeting with the Golden Bears is when the U of A comes to visit on November 4th.
University of Lethbridge
11-15-2, seventh in the Canada West. They were not ranked in the top-10 nationally last season. The team’s three leading scorers will all be back this season. Tim Campbell was the team’s leading scorer from the back-end last season with 12 goals and 17 points in 28 games.
New Recruits
- Russell Maxwell, forward- The four year WHL veteran spent time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Seattle Thunderbirds last season. The 5.08 centre scored 22 goals in 66 games during the 2012-13 season.
- Ryan Chynoweth, forward- After playing in the WHL (with Everett, Tri-City, and Kootenay) from 2010-2015 Chynoweth moved to the AJHL and split time between the Drumheller Dragons and the Lloydminster Bobcats last season scoring 24 goals in 53 games.
- Clint Filbrandt, defence- The Pronghorns will look to Filbrandt for offense from the blue-line after he scored 51 points in 57 games for the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons in 2015-16. The rearguard spent parts of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 season in the WHL with Tri-City and Kootenay.
- Cory Millette, forward- The 5.10 left winger entered the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels in 2010. He went on to play games with: the Rebels, Saskatoon Blades, Prince Albert Raiders, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He had career highs of 72 games, 34 goals, and 64 points last season.
- Torrin White, forward- White played for the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2010-2015 until he moved to the BCHL’s Langley Rivermen last season.
- Evan Wardley, defence- Wardley played 12 games for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers over the past two seasons including 9 in 2015-16 where he registered 1 goal and 3 points. Prior to playing professionally Wardley played for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds from 2010-2015.
- Garret Hughson, goal- The 6.02, 201 lbs goaltender played for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs from 2012-2015 appearing in a total of 105 games. During the 2015-16 season he moved from Spokane to the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires where he got into 12 contests. He moved again during the 2015-16 season and left the OHL to finish the season with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL.
- Ayrton Nikkel, defence- Nikkel played 18 games for the Allen Americans of the ECHL in 2015-16 and also played 26 games for the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks during the same season. Previous to last season Nikkel played in the WHL from 2010-2015 suiting up for: the Saskatoon Blades, Brandon Wheat Kings, Everett Silvertips, and Swift Current Broncos.
The Pronghorns went undefeated in the preseason with a perfect 6-0 record against non-Canada West competition. They meet the University of Alberta for the first time when the Golden Bears visit on November 25th.
University of British Columbia
11-13-4, sixth in the Canada West. The Thunderbirds were not ranked in the CIS Top 10 last season. The Thunderbirds graduated several key players from last season including their leader from the blue-line Neil Manning. Their top scorer Anthony Bardaro (27 pts in 26 games) is back this season. Former Edmonton Oiler and Vancouver Canuck Sven Butenschon is entering his rookie season as the head coach of UBC.
New Recruits
- Tanner Faith, defence- The 6.04 5 year WHL veteran had career high of 24 points in 59 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors last season.
- Carter Popoff, forward- Popoff has played for the Vancouver Giants since 2011. Prior to entering the WHL he played 6 games in the BCHL split between the Penticton Vees and the Surrey Eagles.
- Jake LeBrun, forward- The 6.01 forward played his entire junior career in the BCHL. He had a career high of 19 goals in 44 games for the Prince George Spruce Kings in 2013-14.
- Kyler Nachtigall, forward- A veteran of three AJHL seasons with the Brooks Bandits. He had career highs of 15 goals and 39 points in 58 games last season.
- Joseph Carvalho, defence- The diminutive rearguard (5.08, 170lbs) had 31 points in 72 games for the Prince George Cougars last season.
- Jerret Smith, defence- The right handed defenceman has played the past four seasons for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
UBC went 5-1 in the preseason including two consecutive OT victories over the Golden Bears on Sept 17th and 18th. Their first regular season meeting with the Golden Bears comes at home on October 21st.
Part 2 of the Canada West conference preview comes next Thursday. The next installment will look at: the Manitoba Bisons, Calgary Dinos, Mount Royal Cougars, Alberta Golden Bears, and the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Golden Bears play their regular season home opener on Friday October 14th against the defending Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies.
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