Hockey
The Bison women’s hockey team travelled to the University of Alberta to play two games against the Alberta Pandas, while the Bison men’s team stayed home to host the Alberta Golden Bears for two games of their own on Dec. 2 and 3. Both Bisons teams split their two-game series with Alberta
On Dec. 2, the Bison men’s team was looking for revenge after having a victory taken away due to a disputed overtime call the last time the teams played. The No. 9 ranked Bisons team was able to upset the No. 3 ranked Alberta team, stealing a 3-2 victory in large part due to fantastic play from Bison netminder Jesse Deckert, who stopped 34 shots in the win.
Meanwhile, the same night, the Bison women were shut out by the Pandas. Special teams proved to be the deciding factor in the loss, as both of Alberta’s goals were scored on the power play. Nicole Pratt scored both goals in the Pandas’ 2-0 victory.
The following day the Bisons women’s team put in a much better performance and blocked the Pandas hopes of gaining sole possession of first place before winter break with a solid 3-2 victory. The Bisons took a 1-0 lead heading into the second period, where they were able to extend the lead to 3-1 heading into the final frame. Bison netminder Leiette Klassen, making her first start in goal in over a month, was solid through the final frame as the Bisons used great shot-blocking and strong play to hold on for the victory.
The Bison men’s team faltered in their Dec. 3 game, losing 4-3. The Bisons shot themselves in the foot in this one, as two of the four goals scored against them came on 5-on-3 power play opportunities afforded Alberta by the Bisons’ undisciplined play. Manitoba mounted a third period comeback, cutting Alberta’s lead to just one with less than two minutes to go, but it was too little too late.
The Bison men’s team head into the winter break with a 10-4-2 record, sitting in third place in the Canada West conference. The Bison women’s team sits in fifth in the conference standings with a 7-5-2 record.
Swimming
The 2011 Prairie Winter International was held at the Pan Am Pool Dec. 1-4. Swimmers from all age groups across Canada and the United States participated in the event, in addition to a team from Denmark participating for the first time. The Bisons had 11 female swimmers and 10 male swimmers competing at the invitational.
The two University of Manitoba Bison swim teams placed fourth and sixthed. Bison swimmer Dillon Perron finished first in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke finals, with a final time of 1:03.88.
