The No. 6 Western Mustangs have qualified for the University Cup CIS Mens Hockey championships at the end of March in Thunder Bay as they defeated No. 3 Laurier 3-2 Saturday night in London, Ontario to sweep the Hawks 2-0.
Western joins host Lakehead, No. 1 UNB, No. 4 Saint Marys, and McGill as five of the six University Cup finalists. Western will also play McGill next weekend to determine the OUA Queens Cup champion. The remaining University Cup berth goes to the Canada West Champion with Canada West playoffs still in full swing.
In Canada West playoff action Saturday night; Regina defeated Manitoba 1-0 in Winnipeg to sweep their best-of-three Can West quarter-final series 2-0 with two road wins in Winnipeg. Regina will now face No. 2 Alberta in one of the best-of-three Canada West semifinals.
In the other Can West playoff game Saturday night; Lethbridge defeated UBC 3-2 in OT to tie up their quarter final series at one apiece. The deciding Game 3 will go Sunday night in Lethbridge with the winner moving on to face No. 8 Saskatchewan in the other Can West semi final.
Lakehead has an all-time record of 18-27-1 overall vs the Mustangs; 10 wins, 21 losses, and a tie in regular season play; but 8-6 in playoff action. Western is the team that the Thunderwolves have played the most in eight seasons of OUA/CIS play and the only OUA West team against whom the Wolves have a career losing record. This season the OUA Far West rivals met four times during the regular season and the Wolves took three of four; splitting on the road in London and beating the Mustangs twice at home.
Friday, March 6, 2009.
OUA West Finals (Best of Three)
Game 1 - Wed Mar 4 Western 4 Laurier 3
Game 2 Sat Mar. 7 Western 3 Laurier 2
(Western Wins series 2-0, qualified for University Cup, and will play McGill for the Queens Cup)
Canada West Hockey Quarter-Finals (Best of Three)
Game 1 - Mar. 6: Regina 3 at Manitoba 2
Game 2 - Mar. 7: Regina 1 at Manitoba 0
(Regina wins series 2-0 and will face No. 2 Alberta in Can West semi finals)
Game 1 - Mar. 6: UBC 5 at Lethbridge 4 (OT)
Game 2 - Mar. 7: UBC 2 at Lethbridge 3 (OT)
Game 3 - Mar. 8: UBC at Lethbridge (7:00 pm)
(best-of-three series tied 1-1)