Lethbridge – When the 2012-13 Canada West season gets underway this fall a new, eight-team conference will take shape and the women’s schedule will include significant additional changes.
 
While Mount Royal joins both men’s and women’s hockey action, the women’s side sees the number of conference games jump from 24 to 28, with six teams now qualifying for the post-season.
 
Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams will open the 2012-13 Canada West campaign with home-and-home series versus provincial rival Calgary Dinos.
 
The Pronghorn men will kick-off the Canada West conference schedule Thursday September 27 hosting the Calgary Dinos. The following week it will be the women’s turn, traveling to Calgary for the front half of the home-and-home series with the Dinos Friday October 6^th, before hosting the Dinos the next night for the team’s home opener.
 
Playoff dates for the men’s and women’s playoffs are identical once the conference season concludes on February 9. The top two teams on each side receive a “bye” during quarter-finals on Feb. 15-17 before hosting semifinals Feb. 22-24. The Canada West finals take place March 1-3, and all playoff series’ are best-of-three.
 
Saskatchewan will host the University Cup men’s hockey tournament, March 14-17, 2013 in Saskatoon. The Huskies will also host the six-team tournament in 2014.
 
Women’s teams will compete for a spot at the CIS championship, March 7-10 at the University of Toronto.