Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The 2021-22 Canada West basketball playoffs will have much more of a March Madness feel to them than ever before.
To account for schedule disparity arising from a regional regular season schedule format, all 17 teams in both men's and women's ranks qualify for the post-season, which will feature single elimination tournament-style matchups.
The road to get there will begin Oct. 29-30 when the MacEwan Griffins visit the Mount Royal University Cougars to kick off a 16-game regular season schedule entirely against provincial competition in the newly-created Mountain Division.
The Griffins will welcome Calgary for their home opening-weekend Nov. 12-13 (all home games feature women's and men's games, starting 6 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Saturdays, David Atkinson Gym).
"I think it suits the schedule," said MacEwan men's basketball head coach Mike Connolly of the new tournament-style playoff. "If you have a schedule that's not inclusive then you need an all-inclusive playoffs.
"I just think it's a good format for everybody. It still helps the good teams get an advantage by playing well and earning byes. I think it allows the weaker teams something to play for and helps their development. And the division play builds rivalries. I'm looking forward to it.
"I also think the playoff structure prepares you for nationals," he added. "You don't go to nationals and play best two out of three, so you have to learn to play with urgency."
See the Griffins' men's basketball regular season schedule here
See the full Canada West men's basketball regular season schedule here
B.C. teams will play in the Pacific Division, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba schools battle in the Prairie Division.
MacEwan's Mountain Division schedule features four games against each of their provincial rivals. After their home opener against Calgary, the Griffins will host Alberta Jan. 14-15, Lethbridge Feb. 4-5 and MRU Feb. 18-19.
"After what has been a challenging year in so many ways, we are thrilled to be able to get back on court and back to competition," said MacEwan women's basketball head coach Katherine Adams. "The upcoming season presents an opportunity to reignite old rivalries and create new ones within our province."
See the Griffins' women's basketball regular season schedule here
See the full Canada West women's basketball regular season schedule here
Road matches also include visits to Lethbridge Dec. 3-4, Calgary Jan. 28-29 and across town to the Saville Centre to face Alberta Feb. 11-12.
"The Mountain Division will also allow our friends and family an opportunity to follow our journey more closely than they've been able to in previous years," said Adams. "After a year without basketball they, too, are excited to be able to show their support not only at home, but in our opponents' gyms. We can't wait."
The playoffs run from Feb. 25-27 at one host city/region for each gender. The teams placed 1-9 in the standings earn a bye past the first round on the opening day of the tournament, which will feature matches between Seeds 10-17, 11-16, 12-15, and 13-14.
The winners of those games move onto the second round Feb. 26 to meet Seeds 4-9 (the top three teams get a bye straight into the quarter-finals).
On Feb. 27, four quarter-final matches will be played with the winners advancing to the Final Four, to be played March 4-6.
The men's U SPORTS national championship will run the weekend of March 10-13 at the University of Alberta, while the women's Final 8 host will be announced at a later date.