After their best season since joining the Canada West conference, the Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team is hungry for more. Last season, they made it to the CW Final and earned a spot at Nationals; something they had never achieved before. However, the season ended with a bitter taste in their mouth. They are hopeful to taste glory in 2025-26. 

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.

Men's Hockey on Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel
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.

2025-26 CW Men's Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll 
Team - Points (First-place votes)

1. Saskatchewan Huskies - 71 (7)
2. Mount Royal Cougars - 64 (1)
3. UBC Thunderbirds - 58 (1)
4. Alberta Golden Bears - 49
5. Calgary Dinos - 48
6. MacEwan Griffins - 36
7. Manitoba Bisons - 31
8. Regina Cougars - 23
9. Trinity Western Spartans - 16

2024-25 CW Regular Season Record:
22-6-0

2024-25 CW Regular Season Division Placement:
2nd overall

2024-25 Post-Season Performance: 
Won 2-1 vs. Alberta in best-of-three CW Semi-Final series 
Lost 2-1 vs. Saskatchewan in best-of-three CW Championship Final series
Lost 5-4 in 5OT vs. Toronto Metropolitan in the U SPORTS National Championship Quarter-Final

2025-26 Season Opener
October 3, 2025 vs. Saskatchewan Huskies

2025-26 Home Opener
October 11, 2025 vs. Calgary Dinos

Head Coach / # season / Career CW reg. season record:
Bert Gilling / 12th season / 178-99-24

Last U SPORTS Championship / Total U SPORTS Championships: 
N/A

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Offence
122 goals, 2nd overall

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Defence
67 goals against, 2nd overall

2024-25 CW regular season ranks: Special Teams
Powerplay %: 29.5%, 2nd overall
Penalty Kill%: 81.5%, 4th overall

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Goals (Returning)
18 – Justin Lies

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Assists (Returning)
30 – Connor Bouchard 

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Points (Returning)
37 – Connor Bouchard 

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Wins (Goalies)
14 – Shane Farkas

2024-25 CW regular season leaders: Shutouts (Goalies)
4 – Shane Farkas

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Ethan Buenaventura / Goaltender / 1st year / Winnipeg, MB / Penticton Vees
Tanner Komzak / Defence / 3rd year / North Vancouver, BC / University of North Dakota
Bowden Singleton / Forward / 1st year / Calgary, AB / Calgary Canucks
Alex Izyk / Defence / 2nd year / Blackie, AB / Lakehead University

Key Departures (Name / position / hometown / years with program)
Clay Hanus / Defence / Minnetonka, MN / 3 years
Robbie Holmes / Forward / New Serapta, AB / 4 years
Kurtis Smythe / Defence / Cloverdale, BC / 2 years
Zafir Rawji / Forward / Edmonton, AB / 4 years

Key Performer: Connor Bouchard
Since entering the league in 2022-23, Connor Bouchard has been nothing short of dominant in the Canada West. Now heading into his fourth season with the Cougars, he is expected to take another step with hopes of capturing Mount Royal's first conference title.

Last season, Bouchard recorded a league-best 30 assists and was tied for third in points with 37. As he continues to produce at a high rate, he is rewriting the MRU record books. Even though he is undersized, he plays a physical game and is elusive with the puck. Although the Cochrane, Alta. product has solidified himself as one of the best individual performers in program history, all he cares about is winning. There isn't anyone who wants to win more than Connor Bouchard. And he will do anything to help the Cougars win in 2025-26.

Season Preview
In the 2024-25 season, the Cougars finally found themselves in the Canada West championship series and earned a spot at the U SPORTS National Championship tournament. These accomplishments were new heights for the program. However, the season ended with the Cougars falling to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the CW final and losing to the TMU Bold in a five-overtime marathon in the U SPORTS quarterfinal. While the program has a lot to be proud of, they are clearly not satisfied with how last season ended. 

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Cougars have managed to keep together most of their core to make another run at a championship. With the exception of Clay Hanus and Robbie Holmes, who departed MRU for the pros, the Cougars' roster contains much of their existing talent with a few intriguing new additions. 

Along with Bouchard, a focal point among the forward group will be second-year Justin Lies. The former Flin Flon Bomber tallied 18 goals last season, ranking him third in the league and setting an MRU rookie record. He was lethal on the powerplay, routinely blasting home one-timers from the circle. Fellow second years Jayden Wiens and Teague Patton are also expected to make a significant impact upfront.

Despite the loss of reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, Clay Hanus, the Cougars' blueline possesses tremendous depth. Led by captain Kyle Walker, the defence group boasts size, offensive creativity and shutdown defence. The group got even bigger with the additions of 6'4" Tanner Komzak, who transferred to MRU after two seasons at the University of North Dakota. Coupled with experienced veterans Remy Aquilon and Michael Ladyman, the Mount Royal backend is filled with talent going into the new season.

In the crease, netminders Shane Farkas and Riley Sims are back for another season at FCA. Joining the veteran Cougars is rookie Ethan Buenaventura, after a solid junior career with the Calgary Hitmen and Penticton Vees. Farkas is expected to start the season from the sidelines as he recovers from an injury, meaning Buenaventura could make an immediate impact on a loaded Mount Royal squad.

After finishing first in a highly competitive West Division last season, they now find themselves in the East with fellow Prairie teams. This means more matchups against the CW defending champion Saskatchewan Huskies. The Cougars look to get some early-season revenge in their campaign-opening weekend starting on October 3 in Saskatoon.