Bisons basketball
The basketball teams spent reading week in Calgary, taking on the University of Calgary Dinos Nov. 10 and 11 and the Mount Royal University Cougars Nov. 17 and 18.
The women’s team was swept by both the Dinos and Cougars. In the first game against the Dinos, the herd lost 84-47, and dropped the second game 74-62. Emerson Martin led the team with 10 points in the first game and had 11 points in the second game, alongside rookie Anna Miko.
Against the Cougars, the Bisons lost the close Friday contest 72-66 and Saturday’s match 81-65. Emily Johnson recorded her second double-double of the season in Friday’s loss, registering 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Ayva Khan led the team with 14 points in Saturday’s loss.
The men’s team went 3-1 over the past two weekends. The herd won its first game against the Dinos 87-72. Wyatt Tait recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Simon Hildebrandt led the team with 23 points. The second game was a tight loss, the Bisons dropping the contest 84-77. Daren Watts led the herd in points during the second game with 21.
The Bisons bounced back against the Cougars, walloping the cats 81-60 on Friday. Hildebrandt had his first double-double of the season racking up 13 points and 10 rebounds. Saturday’s game was closer, the Bisons pulling off the 85-77 win. Jonam Kazadi led the team with 21 points while Hildebrandt had his second double-double of the season, recording 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Bisons cross-country
The 2023 cross-country season wrapped up on Sunday, Nov. 12 with the U Sports Championships hosted by the Western University Mustangs.
Fresh off being awarded the CanWest All-Rookie honours, Bison rookie Lena Klassen has been named U Sports cross-country female Rookie of the Year.
Klassen finished with a time of 30:32.3, while Angela Kroeker and Hailee Morisseau crossed the finish line at 31:28 and 32:47 in the women’s race, respectively.
On the men’s side, Justin Kroeker was the fastest Bison with a time of 25:46.7. Noah Fillion ran a time of 26:04.8, while rookie Carson Kroeker and veteran Calvin Reimer crossed the finish line within seconds of each other, posting times of 27:17.9 and 27:19.1, respectively. The eighth Bison at the championships, veteran Alexander Brandt-Ganding, finished with a time of 27:44.8.
Bisons football
CanWest announced two Bisons to the 2023 CanWest football Offensive All-Stars list. Offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro and receiver AK Gassama received the honours.
Vaccaro protected and bought precious time for his quarterback this season, while Gassama finished the season with 85 yards rushing, 465 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
Bisons hockey
The men’s first win of the season came over reading week.
The herd started its road trip in Saskatchewan, taking on the University of Regina Cougars. The Bisons dropped the first game 4-1 with Jonny Hooker as the team’s lone goal scorer, while goaltender Kolby Thornton made 41 saves. However, the first win on the season came in game two of the weekend. In the comeback win, Hooker, Colton Veloso and Jackson Arpin scored consecutively in the third period, and goalie Ross Hawryluk’s 39 saves helped keep the herd in the game to pull off the win.
The team continued its road trip this past weekend to take on the University of Calgary Dinos. Unfortunately, the Bisons could not find a win streak. The herd was swept by Calgary, losing Friday’s game 2-1 and Saturday’s game 9-1. Friday’s lone goal for the Bisons came courtesy of Codey Behun, while Hawryluk made a whopping 52 saves. Saturday’s lone goal came courtesy of Josh Paulhus, while Hawryluk and Thornton combined for 43 saves.
The women’s team hosted the Cougars and Dinos over reading week, going 3-1. The Bisons shut out the Cougars 2-0 on Nov. 9, with Dana Goertzen and Aimee Patrick as goal scorers and goalie Meagan Relf registering 18 saves. The herd dropped the second game against the Cougars 3-2, with Ashley Keller and Sarah Dennehy as goal scorers and goalie Kimberley Davidson registering 19 saves.
This past weekend, the Bisons swept the Dinos. Four separate Bisons found the back of the net in the team’s 5-3 win on Friday. Goals came courtesy of Dennehy, Molly Kunnas, Jena Barscello and Goertzen, with Goertzen scoring twice. In net, Relf made 28 saves. The herd won Saturday’s game 4-1, with Kylie Lesuk completing her first career hat trick. Julia Bird netted the fourth goal for the herd in the win, while goalie Emily Shippam made 25 saves.
Bisons volleyball
The men’s team played both weekends at home over reading week, going 1-1 over the first weekend against the University of Calgary Dinos.
The herd dropped its first game 3-1, winning only the second set 25-18. Ben Carleton led the team with 11 kills, while Sammy Ludwig led the team with 25 assists and Josh Jehle was dig leader with seven. The Bisons bounced back in game two, winning the tightly contested match 3-2. Carleton, Ludwig and Jehle led the team once again, with 19 kills, 38 assists and 13 digs, respectively.
Hosting the Mount Royal University Cougars Nov. 17 and 18, the Bisons were swept 3-0 in the first contest. Spencer Grahame led the team with 10 kills, and Ludwig and Jehle added to their tallies with 27 assists and five digs, respectively. On Saturday, the herd bounced back with a 3-1 win. Eric Ogaranko led with 11 kills, Ludwig with 32 assists and Grahame with seven digs.
Meanwhile, the women’s team started reading week on a bye week, picking up its season this past weekend hosting the Cougars. The herd swept Friday’s match in three straight sets. Raya Surinx led the team with 18 kills, while Katreena Bentley led in assists with 34 and Julia Arnold led in digs with 11. Saturday’s contest was close, with the Bisons coming out on top and winning 3-2. Surinx, Bentley and Arnold once again led in kills, assists and digs, serving up 16, 40 and 22, respectively.
