The Mount Royal Cougars men’s hockey team will never forget the feeling of losing the Canada West final last year to the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon. Head coach Bert Gilling still remembers how tough it was to go home empty-handed. “We watched them celebrate,” said Gilling. “We got silver medals, and they got gold medals. They had the championship team picture and the trophy, and we had a six-hour bus ride home to think about it.” As great as the Cougars men’s hockey program has been in recent years, one thing still missing is a Canada West banner. For players like defenceman Clay Hanus, who is graduating after this season, winning the Canada West would mean a lot. “We’ve got a lot of fourth- and fifth-year seniors on the team, and it would be unbelievable to have a banner up there,” said Hanus. “It’s something no one can ever take away from us, and it would be amazing for the school.” The Cougars would love to get some revenge on the Huskies after last year, and that will give them plenty of motivation. This will be the first time the Cougars have hosted the men’s hockey championship, and within minutes, it was sold out. Goaltender Shane Farkas says he can hardly wait for the series to begin. “You think about how many times in life you really get to have a tight-knit community and your group of people behind you and supporting you in what you do,” he said. “To be able to have them and parents and grandparents and professors and everyone come and support and cheer—it means so much to me, and I know it means a lot to the guys in the room.” No matter who wins the series, both teams are guaranteed a spot in the U Sports National Championship in Halifax from March 19 to 22. Game 1 is Friday night at 7 p.m. Game 2 is Saturday night, also at 7 p.m. If necessary, they’ll play the third and final game on Sunday at 7 p.m. All games will be played at the Flames Community Arena.
