WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Bisons sports teams are having an incredible season with many teams being playoff bound.
Two of the six Bison team sports have already qualified for post-season action while women’s and men’s basketball plus women’s and men’s volleyball are still in playoff hunt as the 2017-18 Canada West conference regular season winds down.
Here is a complete rundown of the 2018 playoff picture for the Manitoba Bisons teams heading into the end of the regular season.
Women’s Hockey
Currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, Manitoba sits atop of Canada West with a 16-5-2-1 first place record with two weekends left in the conference regular season. The Bisons play at Lethbridge on Feb. 2-3 and then finish at home versus Calgary on Feb. 9-10. The Herd has clinched a playoff spot and Top 2 teams in CW standings receive first round bye and will host the second round during the post-season.
Men’s Hockey
Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is third in Canada West with a 14-8-2 record with two weekends left in the conference regular season. The Bisons host Lethbridge on Feb. 2-3 and then finish on the road versus Calgary on Feb. 9-10. The Herd has clinched a playoff spot and Top 4 teams in CW standings will host a playoff round with third and fourth seed playing in the first round of the post-season.
Women’s Basketball
Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is 11th in the Canada West with an 8-10 record plus 11th in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) rankings with one weekend left in the conference regular season. The Bisons play at Fraser Valley on Feb. 2-3. The Top 12 teams qualify for the CW playoffs. The top 12 teams are then ranked 1 to 12 based on each team’s RPI standing. Manitoba seeks to make playoffs for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Men’s Basketball
Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is tied for fifth in the Canada West with a 10-8 record and eighth in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) rankings with one weekend left in the conference regular season. The Bisons play at Fraser Valley on Feb. 2-3. The Top 12 teams qualify for the CW playoffs with Top 8 hosting the playoffs. The top 12 teams are then ranked 1 to 12 based on each team’s RPI standing. Manitoba seeks to make playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Women’s Volleyball
Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is currently tied for eighth place in the Canada West standings with an 8-10 record with three weekends left in the conference regular season. Manitoba host Mount Royal on Feb. 2-3 then at Regina on Feb. 9-10 and finish at home versus UBC Okanagan on Feb. 16-17. The Top 8 teams qualify for the CW playoffs. Manitoba seeks to make playoffs after a one year absence last season.
Men’s Volleyball
Currently unranked in the nation, Manitoba is currently tied for ninth place in the Canada West standings with a 7-11 record with three weekends left in the conference regular season. Manitoba host Mount Royal on Feb. 2-3 then at Regina on Feb. 9-10 and finish at home versus UBC Okanagan on Feb. 16-17. The Top 8 teams qualify for the CW playoffs. Manitoba seeks to make playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Swimming
The Bison women’s team is currently ranked number six in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 ranking while the men’s team is unranked in the nation. The Bisons have qualified six swimmers (women: Kelsey Wog, Dora Modrcin, Gio Wickett, Alexandria Miko and men: Anthony Iliouchetchev and Alex Shogolev) for the 2018 U SPORTS Swimming Championships held at the University of Toronto on Feb. 22-24.
Track and Field
The Bison men’s team is currently ranked number three plus the Bison women’s team is currently ranked number seven in the latest U SPORTS Top 10 ranking. Manitoba will qualify numerous track and field athletes in individual and relay teams for the 2018 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships held at the University of Windsor in from March 8-10 (Tegan Turner, Gee-ef Nkwonta, Oyinko Akinola plus men’s 4×400 and men’s 4x800m have already auto qualified for the Nationals). There are five T&F meets during February for Manitoba athletes to still qualify for the Nationals while the Canada West conference Track and Field championships will be hosted by the Bisons at U of Manitoba campus at the James Daly Fieldhouse from Feb. 23-24.
David Marshal, Manitoba Post with files from Chris Zuk of the University of Manitoba
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