The Canada West Conference released the women’s and men’s hockey schedules for the upcoming winter season.

Both 16-week campaigns start October 3 and wind up February 14 with playoffs starting on February 20. Both USask teams will start on the October 3 and 4 weekend against Mount Royal with the women in Calgary while the men reprise the best-of-three final from this past March. Following is the news release from the Canada West Conference…..

June 24, 2025 – Summer might still be in full swing, but Canada West hockey fans can officially start counting down — the 2025-26 regular season schedule has been unveiled.

Action gets underway with opening weekend Oct. 3 and 4, launching another 28-game regular season packed with intense rivalries and can’t miss action on the road to the Catherwood Cup and Dr. W. G. Hardy Trophy.

The 16-week regular season runs through Feb. 14, with playoffs beginning Feb. 20. The best-of-three Canada West Finals are scheduled to begin March 6.

This season, it’ll be Alberta and MacEwan joining UBC and Trinity Western to comprise the West Division, while Calgary and Mount Royal will pop over to the East Division alongside rivals from Regina, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The top three teams in each division advance to the postseason, with all playoff matchups contested as best-of-three series.

The 2026 U SPORTS national championships are headed east, with Waterloo once again hosting the women’s event and St. Mary’s welcoming the men’s championship to Halifax, N.S. Both tournaments will run from March 19 to 22.

WHKY | Pandas look to defend title

Alberta enters as defending Canada West champions for the first time since 2020. After falling to UBC in the 2024 Catherwood Cup Final, the Pandas got their revenge in last year’s rematch, stunning the T-Birds with two overtime victories to claim the cup.

The two sides will get very familiar with each other this winter, clashing six times as division rivals in ’25-26. UBC hosts Alberta Oct. 17 and 18, with a return engagement set for Nov. 21 and 22 in Edmonton. The teams will also clash again Feb. 6 and 7 in Vancouver.

Opening weekend features a quartet of great matchups, including Mount Royal taking on Saskatchewan. Mount Royal nearly knocked off Alberta in last year’s semifinals, falling in a heartbreaking winner-take-all overtime in game three. An upstart Trinity Western program, coming off an impressive 14 win season and a playoff appearance, hosts Alberta to open their campaign, while Calgary visits Regina. Elsewhere, UBC will visit MacEwan.

The Manitoba Bisons, who are coming off a semifinals appearance, will open their campaign the following weekend when they host Regina.

View Canada West Women’s Hockey championship history.

View the complete 2025-26 CW Women’s Hockey schedule here.

MHKY | Huskies enter ’25-26 as top dogs

We can still hear the roar of Merlis Belsher Place, can’t you? Playing in front of raucous, sold out crowds throughout their postseason run, the Huskies earned their first championship since 2020 last season, defeating Mount Royal 3-0 in a winner-take-all game three of the Canada West Finals.

The Huskies’ win means four different champions have hoisted the Hardy Trophy over the past four years, a level of parity not seen since Alberta claimed six of seven titles from 2013-19.

Mount Royal will be eager to return to the title stage after breaking through to reach their first Canada West final. The Huskies and Cougars won’t have to wait long to renew their rivalry, as the teams kick off the regular season Oct. 3 and 4 in Saskatoon. Other opening weekend series feature Regina at Calgary, Alberta hosting Trinity Western, and MacEwan visiting UBC.

Manitoba will open their campaign the following weekend at Regina.

View Canada West Men’s Hockey championship history.

View the complete 2025-26 CW Men’s Hockey schedule here.