Ab SchOverview
The Pandas have been a fixture at the top of the Canada West standings over the past few years. Coming off a season that saw them post a division best 7-1-4 record, the Pandas will look to continue to assert themselves as the team to beat in their division. The Pandas last won the Canada West championship in 2013 and haven’t won CIS nationals since 2001. They’ll look to end that drought this season, but will almost certainly have to go through two time defending champs and the perennial CIS powerhouses Trinity Western Spartans in order to do it.
Key Players
The Pandas will look to veteran leadership from players like Julia Ignacio and Jesse Candlish in order to make another run at the Canada West title. One key player who won’t be returning is goaltender Keltie Biggs, who posted seven shutouts and allowed only six goals in 12 games last season. Ignacio had an excellent 2013 season, one that saw her lead Canada West in both goals and points, so if she can return to form this season, the Pandas should be in good shape. Losing the top goaltender in the CIS is a big blow to be sure, and it puts more pressure on offensive players like Ignacio and Candlish to produce in order to fill in for the loss of Biggs between the posts.
Last Season
It was all about defence last year for the Pandas, who only surrendered six goals in twelve conference games. This made up for their fairly lackluster offence, which only scored 20 goals, and had no individual players in the top 10 for goals or points. The Pandas only suffered one loss in the regular season last year, and finished at the top of the Prairie division, but were bounced from the Canada West playoffs by the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. They then fell to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the bronze medal game resulting in them missing out on a ticket to the CIS championships.
This Season
The Pandas face a difficult schedule this year, which includes games against the all the toughest teams from British Columbia. They’ll face two time defending CIS champions Trinity Western, the Victoria Vikes, and the Fraser Valley Cascades, who were the top three teams in the Pacific division last year. All these teams provide the Pandas with extremely tough competition, and could serve the Pandas with a very rude wake up call during regular season conference play. The Pandas don’t face a team from Alberta until Oct. 2, starting the season with five consecutive games against teams from B.C. To compound matters, four of the five teams the Pandas face to start the year were playoff teams in the pacific division last year. One thing that could help the Pandas out is the revised playoff schedule, which will see 12 teams making the playoffs as opposed the eight that did last year.
Prediction
Due to the toughness of their schedule, the Pandas will find it difficult to finish at the top of their division, but they should still make the playoffs. They’re also still good enough of a team to do some damage in the playoffs and contend for a spot in Nationals.If the Pandas are able to get more offensive contributions from their veteran forwards, they will be a force come playoff time.
