HKY: Canada West introduces '23-24 hockey schedule

June 20, 2023 - Another exhilarating season of Canada West hockey action returns to the ice this September.

The conference has unveiled both men's and women's slates for 2023-24, with each gender featuring nine teams each playing a 28 game schedule.

The journey towards lifting the prestigious Dr. W.G. Hardy Trophy for the men and the Catherwood Cup for the women begins with an action-packed opening weekend Sept. 28 to 30.

The 16-week schedule will take the top six teams into playoffs with quarter-final action starting Feb. 16. The top two regular season finishers receive a bye into the semi-final round, which begins the following week on Feb. 23.

The Canada West finals will start March 1. ​

All three playoff rounds are best-of-three series.

This year's U SPORTS national championships are slated for March 14 to 17. University of Saskatchewan hosts the women's championship in Saskatoon, while Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes the men's event.

WHKY | Thunderbirds, Cougars hope to build on memorable campaigns

Last year's Canada West women's hockey season had no shortage of feel good moments, none bigger than a magical national championship run by the Mount Royal Cougars.

Entering the national tournament as the eighth seed, the Cougars rattled off a trio of upsets and secured their first U SPORTS national championship in program history. The run was capped by Emma Bergesen's dramatic championship-winning overtime goal, sealing the win over third-ranked Concordia.

While the Cougars took home national glory, it was the UBC Thunderbirds who claimed their second straight Canada West conference title. The Thunderbirds downed MRU in a tightly contested Canada West final, delivering a tense 1-0 victory in a winner-take-all game three.

Fans will have to wait until Nov. 3 for the first rematch between UBC and MRU next season.

Elsewhere around the conference, the Saskatchewan Huskies will look to build on a 14-win campaign as they prepare to host the 2024 U SPORTS national tournament. The Huskies upset the Calgary Dinos in the quarterfinals last season before falling to UBC in the semi-final round.

The Huskies will look for revenge over the Thunderbirds in their first matchup of the season on Nov. 17 in Vancouver.

MHKY | Can Dinos roar to another conference title?

The University of Calgary Dinos finally broke through last season, defeating arch rival Alberta in a Canada West final that turned into an instant classic.

The Dinos comeback 2-1 win in the deciding third game brought home the program's first conference championship since 1996, the crowning achievement of an incredible season that also included a 23-game win streak.

While Alberta fell short in the Canada West final, the Golden Bears rebounded with a great performance at U SPORTS nationals, running all the way to the national final before falling to the University of New Brunswick.

The Golden Bears and Dinos will renew acquaintances Oct. 20 in Edmonton.

Don't Miss a Minute on Canada West TV

Catch all the action of Canada West hockey live on Canada West TV. Early bird discounts for CWTV passes will be available in mid-August.

View the complete 2023-24 Women's Hockey schedule here.

View the complete 2023-24 Men's Hockey schedule here.

2023-24 Canada West Schedule Release Dates:

· ​ ​ ​ ​ April 25: Football

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 12: Soccer

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 13: Rugby 15s

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 14: Field Hockey

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 15: Volleyball

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 19: Basketball

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 20: Ice Hockey

· ​ ​ ​ ​ June 21: CW Championship Sports

*Header image photos by David Moll (left) and Adrian Shellard (right).