The Canada West regular season is winding down with just 4 more league matches to be played. As often is the case this time of year the different scenarios and "if who beats who" and "then they play we" and so forth. Some years it takes a doctorate degree to sort out the various tie break scenarios but this year the Canada West story is looking like it will play out like a good movie. An intriguing start, some twists in the middle and a building climax at the end. In the 2nd last weekend there are some major story lines to be decided.
Regina is still hanging in the playoff picture but needs two wins at UBC this weekend. UBC needs one win this weekend to make their return to the playoffs after a year off. TRU and Winnipeg square up in Kamloops with the host team needing just one win to clinch a playoff birth while Winnipeg needs a split. Alberta hosts Sask in a mean little match up with the Huskies already eliminated form the playoffs they will be building with their young group while the Bears need two wins to try to keep pace in the race for first place (nice huh!). The weekend's two major match ups see the undefeated Calgary Dinos go to play the Bisons of Manitoba. The Dinos are looking to keep a strangle hold on first place heading into the final weekend match up with Alberta. The Bisons are looking to secure a host playoff birth and could do so with a win this weekend.
The final match up of the weekend has the Spartans from wet-coast Langley, BC traveling to the frozen tundra of Brandon, Manitoba. Not really that froze of tundra but in honor of the Packers in the Superbowl this weekend you need to read that again but in the NFL Films guy's voice..."the frozen tundra of Lambeau...er...Brandon Manitoba." This weekend's matches have massive implications to the rest of the playoff picture. With one win TWU will secure a host playoff birth and will have the chance to go heads up with Manitoba to fight for third place. Should Brandon sweep the Spartans this weekend then the Bobcats would put themselves in a great position to earn a host playoff birth next weekend when they play Winnipeg while the Spartans would then have to battle the Bisons at the LEC for that final host birth.
Why is a host playoff birth so important you ask? Good question...it is extremely difficult to beat a good team twice in their barn. Often at the end of the season the difference between the top teams in the conference and the bottom teams is dramatically reduced. What separates them is the venue of competition. The right to play in front of your own fans, friends and family, to sleep and eat in your own surroundings and the comfort of playing in your own facility often proves to be the difference in the playoffs. So with that said this weekend provides a huge opportunity for the Spartans to gain an edge when it comes to advancing through the first round of the playoffs.
What stands in the Spartans way are the the Brandon Bobcats. With a record of 7-7 it would look like the Spartans would be the clear favourite. But make no mistake the Bobcats are a much more dangerous team than their .500 record would indicate. Leading the charge for Brandon University is the reigning CIS player of the year Paul Sanderson who is having an even better statistical season than his award winning season a year ago. To go along with Sanderson's 6+ points per game is the conference's most efficient attacker in Jon Sloan. Standing at 6'9 with good jump he is an imposing figure to match up against. The formula of great wing attacking and a solid first tempo in the offense is one that all teams strive to achieve and the Bobcats most certainly have.
Since joining the CIS in Men's Volleyball the Bobcats have had a tough time with the Spartans. In 2007, the Spartans took both nights in Brandon. A year later with the addition of Sanderson the Spartans and Bobcats split 3-0 decisions at the David E Enarson Gymnasium in Langley. Then it was back to Brandon where National team middle player Joel Small put up a 22 block night to secure a split late in the season. Last season the Spartans exacted some revenge as they were able to defend the new Langley Events Centre winning 3-0 & 3-2. The Spartans 6-2 record with the Bobcats show that Tee-Dub has HAD success but as any competitor knows, this isn't a math or history test, its the best team on one day.
The day in question is February 4th, 6pm pacific time. The #7 ranked Brandon Bobcats host the #4 ranked Trinity Western Spartans with massive playoff implications at stake. Tune in to the webcast at http://educationcdn.com/schools/bobcats/
Go Spartans!!!
Location:Brandon, Manitoba
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