OTTAWA (CIS) – The Alberta Golden Bears hope to add to their record number of national titles this week in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where Lakehead University hosts the 48th annual CIS men’s hockey championship.
 
University Cup website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice
 
The 2010 Cavendish University Cup, presented by TBay Tel, gets underway on Thursday with the first of three days of pool play and culminates on Sunday at 7 p.m. with the gold-medal final, live on Rogers Sportsnet and SSN Canada.
 
Rogers Sportsnet also has live broadcasts of the two Saturday pool matches at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., while SSN is set to webcast all seven games from the tournament.
 
Joining top-seeded Alberta at the championship are the No. 2 McGill Redmen (OUA champions), No. 3 Saint Mary’s Huskies (AUS champions), No. 4 Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA finalists), No. 5 Manitoba Bisons (Canada West finalists) and No. 6 UQTR Patriotes (OUA bronze medallists).
 
Alberta, Lakehead and UQTR will battle in Pool A in the preliminary round, while McGill, Saint Mary’s and Manitoba skate in Pool B. The first-place finishers from each group advance to meet in the national final.
 
The Redmen and Bisons face off in the tournament opener Thursday at 2 p.m., while the Golden Bears and Patriotes kick off Pool A action at 7:30 p.m.
 
The Huskies and T-Wolves take the ice on Friday against the losers of the opening-day duels.
 
New champions will be crowned this week as last year’s gold medallists, the UNB Varsity Reds, fell in the semifinal round of the Atlantic conference playoffs.
 
Alberta, McGill, Saint Mary’s and Lakehead return from the 2009 tournament, when they all failed to advance past pool play.
 
The Golden Bears, established pre-tournament favourites for the second straight years and making their 13th appearance in 14 years, hold most University Cup records including all-time titles (13), championship appearances (34th in 2010), national finals (17), games played (88), wins (59), losses (27), goals for (404) and goals against (264).
 
The Bears are enjoying yet another remarkable season in 2009-10.
 
Led by Canada West MVP and scoring champion Chad Klassen, a fourth-year right winger from Saskatoon who finished fifth in the nation with 46 points (18-28-46) in 28 games during the regular season, Alberta posted a 23-4-1 in conference play before claiming its third straight CWUAA title – and its ninth in 10 years – by downing Manitoba two games to one in the conference final.
 
Despite their stellar record, the Bears got all they could handle from the Bisons this year, winning four head-to-head duels and losing three. Alberta’s 32-5-2 overall mark against CIS competition also includes a pair of close-fought home victories over University Cup-bound McGill during the Christmas break, 5-4 and 6-5 in overtime. 
 
The Bears were the last team to hoist the Cup as the No. 1 seed, doing so in back-to-back years in Edmonton, in 2005 and 2006.
 
“We’re very excited to get back to the University Cup tournament,” said U of A head coach Eric Thurston, who led his troops to two CIS titles in his first four campaigns at the helm. “We know how difficult it is to win, and obviously there are six very good teams all competing for the same goal. There are very few second chances at this stage, and we know how important it is to be ready to go.”
 
Second-ranked McGill, still looking for a first University Cup triumph, didn’t miss a beat this season despite the loss of 14-year bench boss Martin Raymond, who was hired as an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliates, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
 
Jim Webster, who captained the program back in 1972-73, took over on an interim basis and guided the Redmen to second place overall in Ontario during conference play and a 3-1 Queen’s Cup win over Lakehead at Fort William Gardens for the team’s second OUA title in three years.
 
Webster’s squad beat archival UQTR four times in six duels in 2009-10, including a two-game sweep of the East Division final.
 
Led by OUA scoring champion and East MVP Francis Verreault-Paul of Mashteuiatsh, Que., a sophomore right winger who tied for the CIS lead in goals (25) and was second in the country with 54 points in 27 outings, McGill was the highest-scoring team in Canada in league action with 156 goals in 28 games – 11 more than second-place Alberta.
 
“It’s a wide-open tournament this year and I like our chances because we’re a skilled, highly-motivated and hard-working team,” said Webster, whose team amassed a single-season school record for wins, posting 22 in league play and 34 overall.
 
“Of the five teams who have qualified with us at Nationals, the only ones that we haven’t played this season are the two in our pool – Manitoba and Saint Mary’s – so they are a bit of an unknown factor. But 19 of our players were here last year and they are all coming to the dinner table hungrier after having had a taste of how close they came.”
 
Third-seeded Saint Mary’s is peaking at just the right time. Following a three-game losing streak in late January, the Huskies closed out the regular schedule with four straight wins before going 8-1 in the AUS playoffs, including a sweep of StFX in the best-of-five final.
 
The Atlantic champions, who have not faced any of their five University Cup rivals this year, are led by last season’s CIS MVP, fifth-year forward Marc Rancourt of Gloucester, Ont., who finished second in the AUS with 41 points (8-33-41) in 27 contests, and junior Andrew Hotham of Barrie, Ont., the highest-scoring defenceman in the nation with 39 points (6-33-39) in 27 games.
 
Saint Mary’s, which has never claimed the CIS banner, lost four straight national finals from 1970 to 1973.
 
“We are elated to get the opportunity to come back to Thunder Bay in hope of winning the big prize,” said two-time CIS coach of the year Trevor Stienburg, in his 13th campaign at the helm.
 
Five years after receiving the Joseph A. Sullivan trophy as CIS most outstanding player, former team captain Joel Scherban made a smooth transition to the coaching ranks, leading No. 4 Lakehead to the OUA final and a 29-9-4 overall mark against CIS rivals, including a pair of convincing non-conference wins over Manitoba, 6-3 and 8-2, at Fort William Gardens in late December.
 
With no players in the top 25 in OUA scoring, the T-Wolves are producing by committee on offence thanks to four skaters averaging over one point per game, including team leader Dan Speer, a fifth-year right winger from Thunder Bay who finished conference play with 32 points (9-23-32) in 26 contests.
 
Lakehead, which returned to CIS hockey in 2000-01 after an absence of almost two decades, reached its only national final in 2006 in Edmonton, losing 3-2 to tourney host Alberta.
 
“We look forward to the upcoming Cavendish University Cup,” said Scherban, who was twice named CIS most sportsmanlike player during his career. “It should be a tightly contested tournament between six teams that are all capable of winning the championship. We are excited to host such a tremendous event and to compete against the top teams in the country.”
 
After three years serving as head coach of the Danish national team, Mike Sirant returned to Manitoba this season and the move proved beneficial for the fifth-ranked Bisons, who upset Saskatchewan on the road in the Canada West semifinals to qualify for the University Cup for the first time since 2005.
 
Ranked 26th out of the 34 CIS hockey programs during the regular season with only 80 goals scored in 28 games, the Bisons owe a large part of their success to Steve Christie, a fourth-year netminder from Winnipeg who was third in the nation with a .917 save percentage and seventh with a 2.51 goals against average for Manitoba, which ranked fifth in the country in league play with 77 goals allowed.
 
The Bisons’ lone CIS title dates back to 1965.
 
“Steve has been heavily relied upon during this whole season,” Sirant said of Christie, who increased his save percentage to .936 in the post-season. “He has consistently provided goaltending to win every game and more. He has played a very large role in our success. He is very competitive, works hard at his game and thrives in high pressure situations.”
 
Sixth-seeded UQTR has been a University Cup fixture for almost three decades. The four-time national champions (2003, 2001, 1991, 1987) will be making their 16th tournament appearance this week, good for third place on the all-time list, one behind Toronto.
 
After being swept by McGill in the OUA East final, the Patriotes created their own version of Miracle on Ice against 2009 CIS finalist Western in the conference bronze-medal game, on March 13. With the third and final OUA berth on the line, the Pats were down 4-2 with 91 seconds left in regulation but exploded for three goals in 31 seconds to send their home fans into a frenzy and book their ticket to Thunder Bay.
 
In typical UQTR fashion, the Patriotes, who finished first in Ontario and second in the country behind UNB in the regular season with 48 points, have plenty of firepower starting with sophomore right winger Francis Guérette-Charland of Victoriaville, Que., who placed third in the nation in both goals (24) and points (53).
 
2009 CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES: Alberta opened pool play with a 6-3 loss to UNB a year ago, before edging Lakehead 2-1... Lakehead dropped its second duel 3-1 to UNB... Saint Mary’s beat McGill 4-1 in its pool play opener but was crushed 7-2 by Western in its second outing... McGill rebounded from its loss to the Huskies with a 4-3 defeat of Western but it proved too little to late as Western advanced to the final on goals differential... UNB doubled Western 4-2 to claim CIS gold...

TEAM PROFILES
 
No. 1 Alberta Golden Bears
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Eric Thurston (5th season)
Regular season record: 23-4-1
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West
Playoff record: 4-1
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 32-5-2
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 6-3 (2-0 vs. McGill / 4-3 vs. Manitoba)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 1 (1 week: 16th poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 16
Conference award winners: Chad Klassen (MVP), Kyle Fecho (best defenceman), Tyler Metcalfe (Randy Gregg award nominee)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Kyle Fecho (D), Chad Klassen (F), Derek Ryan (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 34th
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1964
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (2nd in Pool A)
University Cup all-time record: 59 wins, 27 losses, 2 ties (.682) 
University Cup titles: 13 (2008, ‘06, ‘05, ‘00, ‘99, ’92, ‘86, ‘80, ‘79, ‘78, ‘75, ‘68, ‘64)
University Cup finals: 17 (13 titles plus 1991, 1985, 1977, 1966)
University Cup best result: 13-time champions (see years above)
University Cup goals for / against: 404-264
University Cup sequence: 13th appearance in 14 years (missed 2007)
 
No. 2 McGill Redmen
 
Head Coach: Jim Webster (1st season)
Regular season record: 22-6-0
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA East (2nd overall OUA)
Playoff record: 7-1
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 33-11-1
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 6-2-1 (1-0-1 vs. Alberta / 1-0 vs. Lakehead / 4-2 vs. UQTR)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): No. 5
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 4 (1 week: 4th poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 16
Conference award winners (OUA East): Francis Verreault-Paul (MVP), Marc-André Dorion (best defenceman)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Marc-André Dorion (D), Francis-Verreault-Paul (F), Alexandre Picard-Hooper (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): None
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 4th   
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 2006
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (2nd in Pool B)
University Cup all-time record: 3-3 (.500)
University Cup titles: 0
University Cup finals: 0
University Cup best result: 2nd in pool play (2009, 2008, 2006)
University Cup goals for / against: 16-22
University Cup sequence: 3rd straight appearance (4th in 5 years & in history)
 
No. 3 Saint Mary’s Huskies
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Trevor Stienburg (13th season)
Regular season record: 16-8-4
Regular season standing: 3rd AUS
Playoff record: 8-1
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 29-11-4
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 0-0
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): No. 8
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 3 (1 week: 5th poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 16
Conference award winners: Cam Fergus (most sportsmanlike player)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Andrew Hotham (D), Marc Rancourt (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: David MacDonald (D), Cody Thornton (F)
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 11th  
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1969
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (3rd in Pool B)
University Cup all-time record: 13-15 (.464)
University Cup titles: 0
University Cup finals: 4 (1973, 1972, 1971, 1970)
University Cup best result: 4-time finalists (see years above)
University Cup goals for / against: 108-107
University Cup sequence: 2nd straight appearance 
 
No. 4 Lakehead Thunderwolves
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Joel Scherban (1st season)
Regular season record: 19-7-2
Regular season standing: 3rd OUA West (5th overall OUA)
Playoff record: 6-2
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 29-9-4
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 2-1 (0-1 vs. McGill / 2-0 vs. Manitoba)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): No. 7
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 4 (1 week: 2nd poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 14
Conference award winners (OUA West): Mark Soares (most sportsmanlike player)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA West): None
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Scott Dobben (F)
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 5th
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1973
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (3rd in Pool A)
University Cup all-time record: 2-7 (.222)
University Cup titles: 0
University Cup finals: 1 (2006)
University Cup best result: 1-time finalists (2006)
University Cup goals for / against: 20-31
University Cup sequence: 2nd straight appearance 
 
No. 5 Manitoba Bisons
Media Guide (PDF)

Head Coach: Mike Sirant (14th season)
Regular season record: 16-10-2
Regular season standing: 3rd Canada West
Playoff record: 3-3
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 24-15-2
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 3-6 (3-4 vs. Alberta / 0-2 vs. Lakehead)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): Unranked
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 3 (1 week: 1st poll)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 15
Conference award winners: Mike Sirant (coach of the year)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Steve Christie (G)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Stephane Lenoski (D)
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 7th
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1965
University Cup last appearance: 2005 (2nd in Pool A)
University Cup all-time record: 5-8 (.385)
University Cup titles: 1 (1965)
University Cup finals: 1 (1965)
University Cup best result: 1-time champions (1965)
University Cup goals for / against: 51-54
University Cup sequence: Return after 4-year absence
 
No. 6 UQTR Patriotes
Media Guide (PDF)  

Head Coach: Jacques Laporte (11th season)
Regular season record: 23-3-2
Regular season standing: 1st OUA East (1st overall OUA)
Playoff record: 5-3
Playoff finish: OUA bronze medallists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 30-8-2
Overall record vs. 2010 University Cup teams: 2-4 (2-4 vs. McGill)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 2): No. 3
Best Top 10 ranking (16 weeks): No. 3 (8 weeks: polls 2-4, 12-16)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (16 weeks): 16
Conference award winners (OUA East): Francis Guérette-Charland (most sportsmanlike player)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Jean-Christophe Blanchard (G), Francis Guérette-Charland (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Guillaume Chicoine (D)
University Cup appearances (including 2010): 16th   
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1984
University Cup last appearance: 2007 (2nd in Pool B)
University Cup all-time record: 19-14 (.576)
University Cup titles: 4 (2003, 2001, 1991, 1987)
University Cup finals: 6 (2003, 2002, 2001, 1991, 1987, 1986)
University Cup best result: 4-time champions (see years above)
University Cup goals for / against: 124-130
University Cup sequence: Return after 2-year absence (10th appearance in 15 years)

POOLS & SCHEDULE
 
Pool A
1. Alberta
4. Lakehead
6. UQTR
 
Pool B
2. McGill
3. Saint Mary’s
5. Manitoba
 
Wednesday, March 24
11:00 Media Conference (Fort William Curling Club – Fort William Gardens)
18:00 All-Canadian Awards Banquet (Fort William Historical Park)
 
Thursday, March 25
14:00 Pool B #1: McGill vs. Manitoba (SSN Canada webcast)  
19:30 Pool A #1: Alberta vs. UQTR (SSN Canada webcast)  
 
Friday, March 26
14:00 Pool B #2: Saint Mary’s vs. Loser Pool B #1 (SSN Canada webcast)     
19:30 Pool A #2: Lakehead vs. Loser Pool A #1 (SSN Canada webcast)      
 
Saturday, March 27
14:00 Pool B #3: Saint Mary’s vs. Winner Pool B #1 (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast) 
19:00 Pool A #3: Lakehead vs. Winner Pool A #1 (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast)  
 
Sunday, March 28
19:00 University Cup Final (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast)  

-CIS-