The Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team opens up their season on the road against the Trinity Western Spartans on October 4th at 7 p.m. Before the men hit the ice, catch up on last season's efforts and check out where they landed among Canada West coach's polls! 

Tickets
Watch the Cougars live at Flames Community arena by purchasing your tickets here. MRU students and employees receive free tickets to all home games.

Cougars Men's Hockey on Canada West TV
Every men's hockey game will be available live and on demand this season exclusively on Canada West TV – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here. 

2024-25 CW Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll: Team / Points (First-place votes)
UBC Thunderbirds - 68 (6)
Alberta Golden Bears - 64 (2)
Saskatchewan Huskies - 56 (1)
Calgary Dinos - 56
Mount Royal Cougars - 46
Manitoba Bisons - 33
MacEwan Griffins - 30
Regina Cougars- 26
Trinity Western Spartans - 17

2023-24 CW Regular Season Record:
21-6-1

2023-24 CW Regular Season Division Placement:
3rd overall

2023-24 Post-Season Performance: 
Lost in game 2 of CW Semi-Final vs. CGY

2024-25 Season Opener
October 4th, 2024 at vs TWU

2024-25 Home Opener
October 11th, 2024 vs. UBC

Head Coach / # season / Career CW reg. season record:
Bert Gilling: 11th season, 156-93-24

2023-24 CW regular season ranks: Offence
108 goals, 5th overall. 

2023-24 CW regular season ranks: Defence
68 GAA, 4th overall.

2023-24 CW regular season leaders: Goals (Returning)
23 - Connor Bouchard

2023-24 regular season leaders: Assists (Returning)
34 - Connor Bouchard

2023-24 CW regular season leaders: Points (Returning)
57 - Connor Bouchard

2023-24 CW regular season leaders: Wins (Goalies)
Shane Farkas (18)

2023-24 CW regular season leaders: Shutouts (Goalies)
Shane Farkas (4)

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Leith Olafson / Defence / 1 / Wasa, BC / Melfort Mustangs
Teague Patton     / Forward / 1 / Kelowna, BC / Everett Silvertips
Jayden Wiens    Forward / 1 / Carrot River, SK / Brandon Wheat Kings
Justin Lies / Forward / 1 / Flin Flon, MB / Flin Flon Bombers
Connor Poffenroth / Forward / 1 / Foothills, AB / Drumheller Dragons
Harmon Laser-Hume / Goalie / 1 / Creston, BC / Flin Flon Bombers

Key Departures (name / position / hometown / years with program)
Connor Blake / Defence / 4 / Calgary, AB / Grande Prairie Storm

Key performer: Connor Bouchard
Connor Bouchard is a standout player for the Mount Royal Cougars men's hockey team, having established himself as one of the most dominant forces in Canada West and U SPORTS. During the 2023-24 season, Bouchard earned multiple accolades, including being named to the Canada West First Team and receiving the prestigious Canada West Most Outstanding Player award. He also claimed the Canada West Top Scorer title, finishing a remarkable 18 points ahead of the next closest player. 

Bouchard made history by becoming the first player since 2000-01 to surpass 50 points in a season, concluding the campaign as the top scorer across all of U SPORTS, with a 7-point lead over the next player. His stellar performance also earned him the U SPORTS Player of the Year award and a spot on the U SPORTS First Team All-Star roster.

Bouchard's 2023-24 season statistics are outstanding: 26 games played, 23 goals, 34 assists, 57 points, including 12 power-play goals, and a 2.28 points-per-game average. His contributions led to an impressive +31 rating and a 24-game point streak, highlighting his consistency and offensive prowess throughout the season.

Season Preview
The Mount Royal Cougars men's hockey team is set to kick off their 2024-25 season with an away game against the Trinity Western Spartans on October 4th at 7 p.m. After a strong 2023-24 campaign, where they finished third in the Canada West regular season with a 21-6-1 record, the Cougars will be looking to improve upon last year's semifinal exit. Despite their playoff disappointment, the team has the potential to compete among the best, although they are ranked fifth in the Canada West preseason coaches poll.

Head coach Bert Gilling, entering his 11th season with a career record of 156-93-24, will lean on standout player Connor Bouchard, who dominated the league last year with 57 points (23 goals, 34 assists). Bouchard's return is a major boost, as he was the top scorer in all of U SPORTS and earned multiple accolades, including Canada West Player of the Year and U SPORTS Player of the Year.

The Cougars will also benefit from key returning goaltender Shane Farkas, who posted 18 wins and 4 shutouts last season. With several new faces, including defenseman Leith Olafson and forward Jayden Wiens, the Cougars hope to maintain their high-scoring offense, which netted 108 goals last season, and strengthen their defense.

Join us next weekend as the Cougars open the season in a doubleheader matchup against the Thunderbirds by purchasing your tickets. If you can't make it in person, all games will be available live on Canada West TV, the official streaming service of the conference. Catch every game live on Canada West TV as the Cougars look to make another deep postseason run.