MHKY: Quarterfinal Preview
Best-of-three series get underway Friday
Article by Brian Swane, special to CW
Feb. 20, 2026 – The 2026 Canada West men’s hockey playoffs get underway this week with two compelling best-of-three quarterfinal series on tap.
The defending champion Saskatchewan Huskies will host the Alberta Golden Bears in one series, while the other series will see the Calgary Dinos visit the MacEwan Griffins. Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Friday (Feb. 20) and Saturday (Feb. 21), with Game 3 set for Sunday (Feb. 22) if necessary.
Alberta, Calgary, and Saskatchewan are the top three winningest men’s hockey programs in conference history, combining for an incredible 50 championships among them. MacEwan on the other hand, is looking for its first playoff series victory since beginning play in Canada West men’s hockey just five years ago.
This has already been a benchmark season for the Griffins, who set the program record for wins and points. MacEwan earned the right to host a Canada West hockey playoff series for the first time after finishing second in the West Division. The Griffins’ clinching victory came in an emotional victory over crosstown rival Alberta in Edmonton last week.
But while the Griffins enjoy home advantage, they will have their hands full against a Dinos team that had a terrific 10-4-1 record on the road this season. Calgary finished just one point behind Saskatchewan for second place in the East Division and sat atop the division standings for much of the season before going through an 0-5-1 mini slump late in the schedule.
Alberta versus Saskatchewan, meanwhile, is widely considered the greatest rivalry in conference men’s hockey history. The two storied programs have faced off in 26 prior Canada West playoff series, with the Golden Bears holding an 18-8 edge, including a victory in the teams’ last postseason meeting, 2-1, in the 2024 quarterfinal round.
Saskatchewan has a lot to feel good about this year, however, after winning both of its meetings against the Golden Bears this season, outscoring them 13-6. The Huskies draw upon the exceptional experience of their championship run last year, while Alberta has only one player, defenceman Dawson Davidson, remaining from its most recent conference title, in 2022.
The Alberta/Saskatchewan winner moves on to play the UBC Thunderbirds while the Calgary/MacEwan victory advances to take on the Mount Royal Cougars in best-of-three Canada West semifinal series next week.
Every game from the Canada West playoffs will be available to stream live on CanadaWest.TV – Powered by BioSteel.
Game recaps, highlights and schedule information are available at WinTheWest.ca.
West No. 2 MacEwan Griffins vs. East No. 3 Calgary Dinos
Games Played at Downtown Community Arena in Edmonton
Series schedule:
- Game 1: Friday, February 20 – 7 p.m. MST
- Game 2: Saturday, February 21 – 7 p.m. MST
- Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, February 22 – 7 p.m. MST
Regular season head-to-head:
- Oct. 31 (at MacEwan): Dinos 5, Griffins 3
- Nov. 1 (at MacEwan): Dinos 4, Griffins 1
MacEwan facts & stats
- Season record: 12-11-5, 29 points (2nd West Division)
- Head Coach: Zack Dailey (4th year)
- Season leaders: forward Kadyn Chabot (35 points), goaltender Zac Onyskiw (5 wins)
- Canada West Championships: none
Calgary facts & stats
- Season record: 19-8-1, 39 points (3rd East Division)
- Head Coach: Mark Howell (17th year)
- Season leaders: forward Adam Kydd (41 points), goaltender Carl Stantowski (10 wins)
- Canada West Championships: 9 (1974, 1976, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2023)
East No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies vs. West No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears
Games played at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon, Sask.
Series schedule:
- Game 1: Friday, February 20 – 7 p.m. CST
- Game 2: Saturday, February 21 – 7 p.m. CST
- Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, February 22 – 6 p.m. CST
Regular season head-to-head:
- Jan. 23 (at Saskatchewan): Huskies 7, Golden Bears 4
- Jan. 24 (at Saskatchewan): Huskies 6, Golden Bears 2
Saskatchewan facts & stats
- Season record: 19-7-2, 40 points (2nd East Division)
- Head Coach: Brandin Cote (4th year)
- Season leaders: forwards Dawson Holt and Chantz Petruic (36 points), goaltender Jordan Kooy (7 wins)
- Canada West Championships: 12 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2025)
Alberta facts & stats
- Season record: 11-13-4, 26 points (3rd West Division)
- Head Coach: Ian Herbers (10th year)
- Season leaders: forwards Adam Hall and Justin Hall and defenceman Dawson Davidson (26 points), goaltender Ethan Kruger (7 wins)
- Canada West Championships: 29 (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 2019, 2022)