Oumar SalifouGolden Bears Hockey
The Bears earned themselves a first round bye this past weekend thanks to a victory against the University of Manitoba Bisons on February 10. The 4-2 win secured the team second overall seed in Canada West. Despite a loss the following night on February 11, the Bears finished the regular season with a strong 18–8-2 record. The Golden Bears will face their provincial rival Calgary Dinos when they return to the rink the weekend of February 24.
Pandas Hockey
The Pandas also found themselves with the weekend off after defeating Manitoba 5-2 on February 10. Unlike the Bears, the Pandas ended their regular season with a win — their 11th consecutive one — solidifying the weekend series sweep with a 2-1 victory on February 11. The second place, 21-4-3 Pandas will host the Canada West semi-final on February 24, as they once again take on the U of M Bisons.
Golden Bears Basketball
A close 96-94 loss against the University of Lethbridge Pronhorns on February 12, meant the Bears basketball squad finished their regular season in third place in Canada West. The Bears will have their chance for revenge however, as they are now set to play the best-of-three quarter-final against Lethbridge at home next weekend, from February 23-25.
Pandas Basketball
The Pandas final conference game of the 2016/17 Canada West season, saw the team claim a 67-47 win against the visiting University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Pandas clinched the fourth and final first round playoff bye, and are now preparing to square off against the UBC Thunderbirds the weekend of February 24-26 at the Saville Community Sports Centre.
Pandas Volleyball
The Panda’s perfect season and winning streak came to an end over the weekend with back to back losses to the UBC Thunderbirds. Still, the Pandas hold a formidable 20-2 conference record, and can clinch first overall in Canada West with two wins this Friday and Saturday, on the road, against the Calgary Dinos.
Bears Volleyball
A weekend sweep of the UBC Thunderbirds was in sight for the Bears volleyball team last weekend, but a blown 2-0 lead in Saturday’s game meant a series split instead. The T-Birds come-from-behind victory on Saturday overshadowed Friday’s 3-1 Bears decision. The Bears have a chance to add only two more wins to their 18-4 conference record next weekend, as they close out the season in Calgary against the Dinos.
Pandas Rugby
The inaugural Ruby Sevens season came to a close over the weekend, with the Pandas finishing third overall after a second place finish in Victoria. The 2017 Canada West Women’s Rugby Sevens Series tournament took place over two weekends, the first at the University of Alberta (Jan. 20-21) and second at the University of Victoria (Feb. 18 and 19). The University of Calgary Dinos defeated the Pandas 26-5 in the final game of the series, giving them both the tournament win in Victoria, as well as the overall sevens series.
Bears/Pandas Tennis
Both the Golden Bears and Pandas tennis teams won at the Prairie Regional Championship meet over the weekend in Calgary. With the wins, the U of A will travel to UBC for the Western Canadian Final where the Pandas will face the Thunderbirds, and the Bears will take on the SFU Clan March 4-5. The winner of the Western Canadian Final, which the Bears and Pandas have each won four-straight times, will advance to the National Championship in August.
