MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The MacEwan Griffins hockey teams will begin the 2023-24 Canada West season with a little unfinished business as they kick off the campaign versus the same program they finished last year against.
Calgary.
It will have been 229 days since the 2022-23 Griffins men's hockey season concluded with a loss to the Dinos when they meet again in the 2023-24 lid-lifter Sept. 28 in Calgary. The teams will also play Sept. 29 in MacEwan's home opener (7 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
The Griffins women's team also finished last season with a loss to Calgary on Feb. 11 and will meet the Dinos Sept. 29 in Calgary to commence the 2023-24 campaign. Their home opener is set for the following night, Sept. 30, vs. the Dinos (5 p.m., DCA).
SEE FULL GRIFFINS WOMEN'S HOCKEY SCHEDULE HERE
SEE FULL GRIFFINS MEN'S HOCKEY SCHEDULE HERE
The Griffins hockey teams will conclude the 28-game 2023-24 regular season slate with a two-game series against Manitoba on Feb. 2-3, with the men on the road and the women at home.
"Both our players and staff are excited about the opportunity for our program's growth at the U SPORTS level as we head into our third official season," said Griffins women's hockey head coach Chris Leeming.
"The past two years have laid a foundation to build upon, and I know that the girls are eager to get back to Edmonton so they can continue establishing themselves and pushing the program to the next level."
Other highlights of the season include home-and-home series against cross-town rival Alberta on Oct. 13-14 and Dec. 1-2.
"Our team is looking forward to the 2023-24 season," said Griffins men's hockey head coach Zack Dailey. "We are all committed to putting in the hard work that's needed to continue to build and grow this program.
"We have a great group of returning players that can have a positive impact on the great new players joining us. I feel that we are in the position to take another step forward this year."
The top-six teams will make the playoffs with best-of-three quarter-final action starting Feb. 16. The top two regular season finishers receive a bye into the semifinal round, which begins the following week on Feb. 23.
The Canada West finals will start March 1.
This year's U SPORTS national championships are slated for March 14-17. Saskatchewan hosts the women's championship in Saskatoon, while Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes the men's event.
