Herd to host Canada West semifinal series Bisons stampede to the top

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JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bison goalie Joe Caliguiri turned aside 15 shots as the Herd beat UBC in overtime to finish first in the Canada West conference.

Though he looked like the last line of defence for the University of Manitoba Bisons men's hockey team, goaltender Joe Caligiuri said there were 41 years of Bisons teams behind him.

The Bisons put up a 5-4 overtime win Saturday over the UBC Thunderbirds, led by Brendan Rowinski's game winner and Caligiuri's 15 saves, to lock down first place in the Canada West conference for the first time since 1971.

"It was such a big accomplishment for this team and this program with it being over 40 years since they won the division," said Caligiuri, who grew up near the U of M campus playing in the Southdale Lakers minor hockey program. "We talked after the game on Saturday and Mike (head coach Sirant) mentioned the alumni and all the good players and good teams that have come through here that never accomplished this but can share in the excitement. The guys are all very proud of that but we're still a long way from what our goal is."

Manitoba finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in Canada with a 20-5-3 record. It will now have a bye before hosting a best-of-three semifinal series March 2-4 at Max Bell Arena.

"But nothing has been won yet, the guys all appreciated what had been done there, but starting right now, we have two weeks of practice before the semifinals open up on March 2 and that's where our focus has shifted to," Caligiuri said.

Sirant said the team's formula for success has been simple -- stick to the plan and keep their heads in the game no matter what's on the scoreboard. On Saturday against UBC, the Bisons were down 3-2 after two periods. Manitoba's Blair Macaulay and Ian Duval each scored early third-period goals to get back in the lead before UBC tied the game to force overtime.

"We have found ways to win games when we're down," said Sirant, who played four years for the Bisons in 1981-1985. "Each time you do that, you can just draw on that experience in the future. We've been in that situation before, faced this type of adversity together and that's the key -- you can't have one guy who feels he's going to go out and do it himself. Everybody steps up together to find that way to win."

The Bisons had seven players finish with 20 points or more in 28 league games with Macaulay leading the way with 24 goals and 10 assists for 33 points. The others are forward Tyler Dittmer (24 points), defenceman Jeremy Schappert (23 points), forward Ian Duval (22 points), forward Brendan Rowinski (21 points) and defencemen Dane Crowley (21 points) and Matthew Lowry (20 points).

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Canada West semifinal series @ Max Bell Arena

Manitoba vs. lowest seed left after quarter-finals

7 p.m. March 2

7 p.m. March 3

7 p.m. March 4 (if necessary)

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 22, 2012 D4