The University of Calgary Dinos and University of Manitoba Bisons men’s hockey teams battled it out beyond regulation time in game two of the Canada West semifinals, with the Bisons ultimately forcing a deciding game three in a 3–2 victory.
Unlike the night before when the Dinos dominated every aspect of play en route to a 5–1 victory, both teams played a tight defensive game while still generating many quality scoring chances. The Dinos’s young guns opened up the scoring just 1:37 into the game as first-year defence Davis Vandane blasted a shot past Manitoba netminder Joe Caligiuri, with the lone assist going to fellow first-year Elgin Pearce. Feeling the pressure of an elimination game, Bisons forward Luke Paulsen was able to even the game at one with a point shot that got past Dinos goaltender Kris Lazaruk.
Steady defence from both squads kept the game deadlocked at one through two periods. The Dinos came out with energy in the third. The Bisons were killing a penalty less than three minutes into the frame when Dinos defence Cory Pritz was able to skate through the entire Bisons defence and wrist a shot past Caligiuri to restore the lead early in the third.
The Bisons were resilient all night and were able to answer back. Forward Dylan Kelly came into the slot and found the back of the net to tie the game. The game stayed tied through regulation and both teams traded glorious scoring chances in the extra session. Manitoba was able to capitalize on their extra energy when forward Jordan Depape streaked down the wing and fired the puck over Lazaruk’s shoulder for the win at the 13:05 mark of overtime to send the series to a third and and final game three on Sunday, March 2 at 6 p.m. at Father David Bauer Arena.