Dinos set to embark on new journey
All eyes on University Cup
Following a renaissance season a year ago that saw the team win 21 games during the regular season, the University of Calgary Dinos are hoping to take another step forward as they get set for the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
Head Coach Mark Howell enters his sixth season at the helm of the Dinos with a strong returning core. A total of 11 players from last year’s squad are now second-years at Calgary and are more acclimatized and ready for the challenges offered at the Canada West level.
While wins won’t be any easier to come by this season, the Dinos’ path to the University Cup became clearer with the announcement that two teams from the Canada West will represent the conference at this year’s tournament in Halifax. Calgary’s last appearance in the University Cup came in 2011 when the team joined the Alberta Golden Bears in Fredericton.
“I think expectations are a good thing, it is a pressure guys want to have and will embrace,” explained third-year forward Spencer Edwards. “Although two teams will get to go this season, no one wants to be the one that sneaks in the back door. We want to be the team that wins the league and earns their spot. That’s our goal.”
Averaging 4.5 goals-per-game in 2013-14, the Dinos return an offensive core that should be able to produce even more this year. Canada West Rookie of the Year Chris Collins will try for an encore performance after scoring a conference-high 19 goals last season, while fellow second-years Adam Kambeitz, Elgin Pearce, Ryan Harrison, Jordan Messier and Dylan Walchuk are all capable of putting up big numbers and will be counted on.
Where the Dinos may look most different is on the back end. A defence usually known for its puck carrying and ability to score, Calgary’s blue-line will be much younger with a balance of size and skill. Drydn Dow, Dan Gibb and Davis Vandane will all take on larger roles as second-years. Max Ross joins the defensive core after playing his firth three seasons with the Dinos as a forward, while Alex Dzielski stands as the most experienced defenceman of the group.
Kodie Curran is still eligible to return for a fifth year at the University of Calgary, having just finished attending main camp for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
While the defence will have a new-look, the Calgary crease has no changes as Jacob DeSerres and Kris Lazaruk return for their fourth years with the Dinos.
DeSerres finished the year with 13 wins, a 2.15 goals-against average and a 0.914 save percentage, which won him the CIS Goaltender of the Year Award. The Calgary native recently returned from the Florida Panthers’ Rookie Camp.
Calgary opens the 2014-15 regular season this weekend, Sept. 26-27 against the Manitoba Bisons. A hardworking squad with good size, the Bisons are the only team the Dinos didn’t see during September’s preseason games and will be coming in with a chip on their shoulder. Last season, Calgary ended Manitoba’s season with an overtime tally by Dzielski in Game 3 of the conference semifinals.