There is only one thing better than playoff hockey: Crowchild Classic playoff hockey.

The Mount Royal University Cougars and University of Calgary Dinos are set to face off in a best-of-three semifinal series for a spot in the Canada West finals and a berth to the U SPORTS National Championship in Halifax.

The last time the Cougars and Dinos met in the postseason was in 2024, also in the semifinal. The Dinos swept the Cougars to advance to the final. Mount Royal will be keen to get their revenge this time around.

It would be hard to imagine the Cougars would be in the spot at the beginning of the season. They started the season 6-5-1 and didn't string together two straight wins until Nov. 21st. Since their sluggish start, they have gone on an absolute tear. In their last 17 games, they posted a record of 15-1-1. Only one regulation loss in their last 17 games. Mindboggling stuff from the Cougars.

Their tremendous play down the stretch earned them the top spot in the East Division and a bye to the semifinal. After a week of rest and practice for Mount Royal, they are set for a battle against the Dinos. The Cougars took the regular-season series, going 4-1-1 against Calgary.

Their strong record is something to be proud of, but that doesn't matter anymore in the playoffs. The Cougars must shift their mindset to playing one game at a time.

Mount Royal has the ingredients to put together the recipe for postseason success, and it starts with the high-powered offence. Connor Bouchard was a major part of the team's hot streak. In the Cougars' last 17 games, he's recorded a staggering 27 points. Bouchard has formed an excellent top line with Spencer Moe and Vaughn Watterodt during the period, with the trio consistently producing in big games. But even when they need a change-up, players like Blake Stevenson, Teague Patton or Jayden Wiens have been able to slide up and down the lineup. The Cougars' forward talent goes four lines deep. Senior forward Josh Tarzwell has been huge for Mount Royal all year long, even when the team was struggling. His relentless forecheck has helped the Cougars form a cohesive identity – one that will be valuable heading into a tough series against Calgary.

On the blueline, the Cougars are led by captain Kyle Walker. The fifth-year defenceman finished his regular-season career, having played the second-most games in program history (U SPORTS era), with 126. In his MRU career, Walker has seen everything. The highs and lows. But he is still searching for the championship. When the Cougars fell to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West finals last year, Walker stayed out to watch the Huskies receive their trophy and celebrate. He wanted to keep that image in his head and use it as motivation. Kyle Walker's drive to win has never been higher. He's the type of player built for the playoffs.

Just like the forwards, the defensive corps is extremely deep. The midseason return of reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, Clay Hanus, gave the Cougars a big boost. He completed their dangerous powerplay and made everyone around him better. The experience on the blueline is not something to be ignored. Along with Walker and Hanus are fellow senior defenders Remy Aquilon and Michael Ladyman. The pair did not miss a regular-season game in their entire four-year career. The defensive stability that Mount Royal possesses will be a strength against the Dinos

Another boost that the Cougars got midseason was the return from injury of star netminder Shane Farkas. The Penticton, B.C. product picked up right where he left off when he came back, posting an 8-1-0 record and a 2.76 goals against average. Just like his fellow seniors, Farkas has seen it all. He knows he has the skill and technique to be a championship goalie, but more importantly, he's got the goaltending instinct. Expect Farkas to get the start between the pipes for game one. 

A playoff Crowchild Classic is bound to be a heated series. These teams do not like each other – giving fans a recipe for an entertaining weekend. The Dinos are coming off a quarterfinal series where they swept MacEwan in Edmonton. Throughout the season, Calgary has relied heavily on captain Adam Kydd, who finished second in the league with 41 points. He was their only player in the top 20 of leading point-getters. A key to the Cougars' success will be shutting Kydd down, but also prioritizing budding rookie star Hayden Pakkala. The first year had five points in the two-game series against MacEwan last weekend.  

Canada West Semifinal Schedule:

Game 1: Friday, Feb. 27 @ 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arena 
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 28 @ 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arena 
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, Mar. 1 @ 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arena 

Tickets are available and selling fast. Get yours here so you don't miss the action. All games can be streamed live on Canada West TV.