Winter Championship Season Heats Up for University of Calgary Dinos
The winter championship season is in full swing this weekend, with University of Calgary Dinos athletes competing in multiple high-stakes events across different sports. The action is headlined by the 2026 Canada West wrestling championships in Edmonton, where both Dinos wrestling teams will battle for conference supremacy.
Wrestling Teams Seek Conference Glory in Edmonton
The Dinos wrestling squads travel to Edmonton for the Canada West championships on Saturday, with competition beginning at 10 a.m. against Saskatchewan. The schedule continues with a 1 p.m. matchup against host Alberta before concluding against Lethbridge at 3 p.m.
The women's team aims for their third consecutive conference title after dominating last season with a 10-point victory margin, securing their 13th program banner. Meanwhile, the men's team seeks their sixth conference championship in program history, with their last title dating back to 2003.
Women's Basketball Begins Postseason Journey
Fresh off a commanding home sweep against city rival Mount Royal, the Dinos women's basketball team enters postseason play with momentum. They will open their Canada West campaign with a play-in game against Manitoba on Friday at 1 p.m. MT in Langley, British Columbia.
Should they defeat the Bisons, the Dinos would advance to face host Trinity Western in a quarterfinal matchup Saturday at 9 p.m. MT. Calgary finished the regular season with an impressive 16-4 record, though they settled for third place in the highly competitive Canada West Prairie Division.
The opening round presents a familiar opponent, as the Dinos faced Manitoba in the same playoff round last season, cruising to an 89-64 victory. This year, Calgary swept the Bisons in Winnipeg to close out the first semester, winning by an average margin of 23 points.
If Calgary advances past Friday's contest, they will encounter Trinity Western on Saturday night. The Spartans earned the No. 2 seed in the Pacific Division with a 15-5 record. The Dinos hold a commanding 25-2 all-time conference record against TWU dating back to 1999, though the teams haven't met in conference play for over two years.
Men's Basketball Defends Championship Title
The reigning Canada West champion Dinos men's basketball team begins their postseason journey with a play-in game against Thompson Rivers on Friday at 2 p.m. MT in Winnipeg. The winner will advance to face top-seeded Winnipeg on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT.
The Dinos finished the regular season with a 12-8 record, earning the No. 9 seed against No. 8 Thompson Rivers. The WolfPack also posted a 12-8 record while competing primarily against Pacific Division opponents. Head coach Dan Vanhooren's teams have historically dominated Thompson Rivers, holding a 14-3 all-time conference record against them.
Should Calgary advance to Saturday's quarterfinal, they would face No. 1 seed Winnipeg. The Wesmen compiled a 16-4 regular season record and have lost just once since the new year began. The two teams met twice this season, with Winnipeg claiming both games on Calgary's home court—winning the opener by two points and the second game by 17 points.
Additional Dinos Teams in Crucial Matchups
Beyond wrestling and basketball, University of Calgary volleyball and hockey teams are also engaged in crucial games as they prepare for their respective postseason runs. The weekend represents a significant moment for Dinos athletics across multiple sports programs.
The championship atmosphere promises intense competition as Dinos athletes strive for conference titles and postseason advancement in what could be a defining weekend for University of Calgary sports.
