Regina Cougars men's ice hockey

The Regina Cougars men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the Regina Cougars athletics program of University of Regina. The team is a member of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association conference and compete in U Sports. The Cougars play their home games at The Co-operators Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.[2]

Regina Cougars men's ice hockey
UniversityUniversity of Regina
ConferenceCanada West
Head coachTodd Johnson
Since 2012–13 season
Assistant coaches
  • Mike Berard
  • Jeff Lawson
  • Harley McEwen
  • Darrin McKechnie
ArenaThe Co-operators Centre
Regina, Saskatchewan
ColorsGreen and Gold[1]
   
U Sports Tournament appearances
1978, 1979, 1980, 1982
Conference Tournament championships
1978, 1979, 1980, 1982
Conference regular season championships
1978, 1979, 1982, 1992

History

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Shortly after the school split from its parent university, the University of Saskatchewan, Regina began sponsoring varsity ice hockey. Instead of joining with the Huskies in Canada West, the Cougars became members of the more geographically-appropriate Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Regina hit the ground running, finishing as runners-up in their first season and then winning the league title in only their second season. In the team's first six seasons, they won four GPAC championships, however, it took the team a little longer to find success in the University Cup. The Cougars lost their first four tournament games, however, they swept through pool play in 1980 to reach their first championship match. Though they fell to perennial powerhouse Alberta, they were the only team from the GPAC to ever reach the final game.[3]

Regina declined as the 80s wore on but still remained one of the better teams in the conference. However, in 1985, the GPAC collapsed when it became reduced to just three members. The remaining schools, Regina, Brandon and Manitoba, all joined Canada West Universities Athletic Association. While it was the only move Regina could make and still have a pathway to the national tournament, the team's record suffered mightily in its new conference. The Cougars bottomed-out in 1988 but recovered by the early-90s with a few decent performances. Regina captured a regular season title in 1992 but were upset in the final round and prevented from returning to the University Cup two more finals appearances in the 90s followed but both ended with the same result.

By the beginning of the 21st century, the glory days of the program were becoming a distant memory as Regina sank towards the bottom of the standings. Over a 24-year span, the Cougars produced only two (barely) winning records in the regular season while finishing dead-last on nine occasions.[4] The Cougars returned from the COVID-imposed break with a decent performance in 2022, however, by the next season they were back at the bottom of the standings.

Season-by-season results

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports Semi-finalist Conference regular season champions Conference Division Champions Conference Playoff Champions
Season Conference Regular Season Conference Tournament Results National Tournament Results
Conference Overall
GP W L T OTL SOL Pts* Finish GP W L T %
1976–77 GPAC 22 13 9 0 26 2nd 22 13 9 0 .591
1977–78 GPAC 22 18 4 0 36 1st 27 20 7 0 .741 Won Championship series, 2–1 (Lakehead) Lost Group 1 Round-robin, 3–7 (Alberta), 0–5 (St. Francis Xavier)
1978–79 GPAC 22 18 4 0 36 1st 26 20 6 0 .769 Won Championship series, 2–0 (Manitoba) Lost Group 1 Round-robin, 1–3 (Alberta), 3–8 (Concordia)
1979–80 GPAC 20 12 8 0 24 3rd 27 17 10 0 .630 Won Semi-final, 4–2 (Manitoba)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (Brandon)
Won Group 2 Round-robin, 5–2 (Guelph), 7–4 (Moncton)
Lost Championship, 3–7 (Alberta)
1980–81 GPAC 24 13 11 0 26 3rd 25 13 12 0 .520 Lost Semi-final, 3–5 (Manitoba)
1981–82 GPAC 24 21 3 0 42 1st 29 23 6 0 .793 Won Championship series, 2–1 (Brandon) Lost Group 1 Round-robin, 5–6 (Concordia), 2–8 (Saskatchewan)
1982–83 GPAC 24 13 11 0 26 3rd 25 13 12 0 .520 Lost Semi-final, 2–4 (Manitoba)
1983–84 GPAC 24 10 14 0 20 3rd 24 10 14 0 .417 Lost Semi-final, 4–5 (Brandon)
1984–85 GPAC 24 15 8 1 31 2nd 28 17 10 1 .625 Won Semi-final series, 2–0 (Lakehead)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
1985–86 Canada West 28 8 20 0 16 7th 28 8 20 0 .286
1986–87 Canada West 28 9 18 1 19 7th 28 9 18 1 .339
1987–88 Canada West 28 3 24 1 7 8th 28 3 24 1 .125
1988–89 Canada West 28 9 16 3 21 6th 28 9 16 3 .375
1989–90 Canada West 28 13 13 2 28 T–4th 30 13 15 2 .467 Lost Semi-final series, 0–2 (Calgary)
1990–91 Canada West 28 13 14 1 27 4th 31 14 16 1 .468 Lost Semi-final series, 1–2 (Calgary)
1991–92 Canada West 28 19 6 3 41 1st 32 21 8 3 .703 Won Semi-final series, 2–0 (Manitoba)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Alberta)
1992–93 Canada West 28 16 7 5 37 2nd 33 18 10 5 .621 Won Semi-final series, 2–1 (Calgary)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Alberta)
1993–94 Canada West 28 16 11 1 33 4th 31 17 13 1 .565 Lost Semi-final series, 1–2 (Lethbridge)
1994–95 Canada West 28 17 9 2 36 2nd 30 17 11 2 .600 Lost Semi-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
1995–96 Canada West 28 12 11 5 29 5th 36 16 15 5 .514 Won Division Semi-final series, 2–1 (Saskatchewan)
Won Division Final series, 2–1 (Manitoba)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Calgary)
1996–97 Canada West 26 7 17 2 16 7th 28 7 19 2 .286 Lost Division Semi-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
1997–98 Canada West 28 4 22 2 10 8th 28 4 22 2 .179
1998–99 Canada West 28 4 20 4 12 8th 28 4 20 4 .214
1999–00 Canada West 28 4 21 3 11 8th 28 4 21 3 .196
2000–01 Canada West 28 9 14 5 23 6th 30 9 16 5 .383 Lost Division Semi-final series, 0–2 (Saskatchewan)
2001–02 Canada West 28 12 12 4 28 5th 30 12 14 4 .467 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
2002–03 Canada West 28 11 16 1 23 5th 30 11 18 1 .383 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
2003–04 Canada West 28 10 14 4 24 4th 32 12 16 4 .438 Won Division Semi-final series, 2–0 (Manitoba)
Lost Semi-final series, 0–2 (Saskatchewan)
2004–05 Canada West 28 6 17 5 17 5th 30 6 19 5 .283 Lost Division Semi-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
2005–06 Canada West 28 10 16 2 22 6th 31 11 18 2 .387 Lost Division Semi-final series, 1–2 (Manitoba)
2006–07 Canada West 28 13 12 3 29 T–5th 31 14 17 0 .452 Lost Division Semi-final series, 1–2 (Calgary)
2007–08 Canada West 28 10 15 3 23 6th 30 10 20 0 .333 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (Calgary)
2008–09 Canada West 28 11 15 0 2 24 6th 33 14 17 2 .455 Won Division Semi-final series, 2–0 (Manitoba)
Lost Semi-final series, 1–2 (Alberta)
2009–10 Canada West 28 9 17 2 0 20 6th 28 9 19 0 .321
2010–11 Canada West 28 8 18 0 2 18 7th 28 8 18 2 .321
2011–12 Canada West 28 5 20 2 1 13 7th 28 5 22 1 .196
2012–13 Canada West 28 13 12 3 0 29 6th 30 13 17 0 .433 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (Manitoba)
2013–14 Canada West 28 11 15 1 1 24 T–6th 28 11 16 1 .411
2014–15 Canada West 28 8 17 2 1 19 7th 28 8 19 1 .304
2015–16 Canada West 28 7 21 0 0 14 8th 28 7 21 0 .250
2016–17 Canada West 28 3 22 3 0 9 8th 28 3 25 0 .107
2017–18 Canada West 28 4 22 1 1 10 8th 28 4 23 1 .161
2018–19 Canada West 28 4 23 1 0 9 8th 28 4 24 0 .143
2019–20 Canada West 28 8 17 2 1 19 7th 28 8 19 1 .304
2020–21 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 Canada West 20 10 9 1 0 21 6th 22 10 12 0 .455 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (Mount Royal)
2022–23 Canada West 28 8 17 2 1 17 6th 30 8 21 1 .283 Lost Quarter-final series, 0–2 (British Columbia)
2023–24 Canada West 28 6 20 1 1 14 7th 28 6 21 1 .232
Totals GP W L T/SOL % Championships
Regular Season 1260 483 709 68 .410 3 GPAC Championships, 1 Canada West Championship
Conference Post-season 78 28 50 0 .359 4 GPAC Championships
U Sports Postseason 9 2 7 0 .222 4 National tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record 1347 513 766 68 .406

Note: Games not counted towards University Cup appearances are not included.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "University Website Colours". Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "The Co-operators Centre". Regina Cougars. October 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "U Sports Men's Hockey". U Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Canada West Men's Hockey History". Canada West. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
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