by  Ezra Ginsburg

February 15- With the men’s hockey team halfway across the city at the MTS Centre, the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team was happy to find themselves in familiar territory for the opening game of their Canada West semi-final series.

The men’s hockey squad was forced out of their home rink for their series with the University of Regina Cougars when both the men’s and women’s teams gained home ice advantage this weekend. The Bisons certainly weren’t complaining, as the #5-ranked team in the country defeated the #8 University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-1 on Friday night at the Max Bell Arena to take the early lead in the best-of-three series.

Captain Leanne Kisil played a superb two-way game, scoring two goals and adding an assist to pace her team to the all-important Game 1 victory.  Forward Meghan Ross scored the eventual game-winner in the first period, while also adding an assist on Kisil’s second tally as goaltender Stacey Corfield was solid when she needed to be, making eight saves for the win.

“Leanne has been great for us all year and tonight was no different,” said Bisons head coach Jon Rempel. “That shorthanded goal was awesome and she pretty much did it all for us tonight. We’re happy with our team’s effort and look to carry the momentum in to tomorrow afternoon’s game.”

Kisil’s opening goal in the first period was a nifty individual effort, as she took a feed from Amy Coates at the Huskies blue line, moved in, and beat Huskies goalie Vanessa Frederick with an extraordinary backhanded deke. The goal was even more special as it came after the Bisons took a lazy holding penalty. The Bisons got into more penalty trouble as Kacey Funk was forced to take an interference penalty when she was beaten cleanly to the puck by two Saskatchewan forwards.  Manitoba killed it off however and 2^nd year forward Meghan Ross put the home side by two as she drove hard to the net and buried a rebound off a wrist shot by Katherine O’Rourke.

Manitoba continued to execute well on the man advantage in the second period and came close to scoring when Chantal Larocque drove hard to the net on an Addie Miles feed.   The Huskies scored the only goal of the frame when 2^nd year forward Cali Hopkins scored on the power play on a beautiful pass from Kelsey Tulloch.

The Bisons owned the third period as they displayed more energy and controlled the neutral zone more effectively.  The Bisons out shot Saskatchewan 10-1 in the period, highlighted by Kisil’s second goal of the game, coming as a result of a goal line scrum.

The Bisons women’s hockey team, which set program records this season with 18 wins and 38 points, were hosting their first Canada West playoff match since the 2001-02 season.

The best-of-three Canada West Semi-Final series continues tomorrow at the Max Bell Arena as Game two starts on Saturday, February 16 at 3 p.m. and, if necessary, game three will be played on Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m.  The winner of the series earns a berth to the CIS Championship, which occurs in March.