Griffins set to resume playoff chase with road doubleheader at Manitoba
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | MacEwan University | Manitoba |
|---|---|---|
| PowerPlays | 0 for 3 | 2 for 6 |
| Shorthanded Goals | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties (min) | 6 (12) | 3 (6) |
| Shots on Goal | 23 | 36 |
| Face Offs Won | 0 | 0 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Both sitting outside the Canada West men's hockey playoff picture, the MacEwan Griffins and Manitoba Bisons will be hungry to kick off the second half of the season on a high note this weekend.
The Griffins (3-9-0-0) head east to Winnipeg for their first-ever U SPORTS regular season action against the Bisons (3-8-1-0) on Friday (6 p.m. MT) and Saturday (2 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
Both teams have some ground to make up as they chase Regina (6-5-1-0) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference.
"It's obviously something every team's got their eyes on," said MacEwan head coach Mike Ringrose. "I think for us to find the success that we need in the second half to reach for that final spot, we're really going to need a good start.
"(Playoffs are) a goal that's there, but it certainly can't be our focus. Our focus needs to just be on the process and just be on the first period of the first game on Friday night and then start to build from there.
"We believe in what we're doing and, with attention to detail and a committed group, we feel we can just take it one step at a time. If we do that, we'll see what happens and just go from there."
MacEwan was last in action on Dec. 3-4 when they were shut out twice by Alberta, while Manitoba's been idle even longer – last playing against Alberta on Nov. 26-27, earning a weekend split.
"Obviously, they're a team that has had some success this year," said Ringrose, most notably referring to Manitoba's 7-6 overtime upset over the Golden Bears on Nov. 26. "They're a young group. They had a really good recruiting class this summer.
"For us we just need to continue to play our game, keep the game simple, push pucks in behind their defencemen and establish our forecheck and some zone time. We really want to make this team defend. That's a huge part of the game plan for the weekend."
In the time since they last played a conference game, three members of the Griffins had a chance of a lifetime as part of the U SPORTS all-star team that went against Team Canada's World Juniors squad in a pair of exhibition contests. Ringrose was part of the coaching staff, while Riley Brandt and Sean Comrie played for Team U SPORTS in the Dec. 11-12 contests.
"It was a great experience," said Ringrose. "Any time you get the opportunity to play against a team of that calibre, it's fun. It's definitely enjoyable.
"I thought our guys did a great job of representing the school and representing our program. It was unfortunate to see the (World Juniors tournament) go the way that it did with the cancellation as a result of COVID, but it was an experience we will certainly not forget."
