Overview
The Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) is the governing body for collegiate sports in Manitoba. It was founded in 2007-08 as the successor to the Central Plains Athletic Conference (CPAC). The MCAC has 7 member schools and offers competition in four sports. The hockey league folded after the 2009-10 season.
The MCAC is not affiliated with the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA). However, the stated aim of the MCAC from Executive Director Bill Wedlake is on the front of their web site:
- "As we expand our offering from year to year with our ultimate goal of becoming full members of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, we hope you will share with us the excitement of MCAC sport."
The CCAA is the second tier of university/college sport in Canada. It has not held a national hockey playoff since 2001. The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is currently the only college league in Canada. However, the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) includes college teams.
The MCAC has concentrated on basketball, volleyball, and soccer for small local colleges and universities. Also, the MCAC has been used as a stepping-stone by CIS teams. Back in the CPAC days, Brandon University needed to enter another sport to maintain membership in the CWUAA. So, they started volleyball programs in the CPAC and entered the CWUAA when they were ready. The University of Winnipeg did likewise with their soccer teams in the early days of the MCAC. Starting in 2014-15, Brandon University is entering teams in the MCAC soccer league.
External Links
- The old CPAC web site no longer exists.
- The MCAC web site has limited archives. The hockey information is particularly sparse, consisting of a very few stories and standings.
Hockey Seasons
There was always tremendous disparity in the quality of the hockey teams. Some schools simply enter clubs in local rec leagues. The league operated with only 3 teams per season under the MCAC banner. Under the CPAC banner, the league peaked at 5 teams. The teams were:
- Assiniboine College Cougars - won in 2010
- Canadian Mennonite University Blazers - won in 2008 and 2009
- Providence College Freemen
- Saint Boniface Voyageurs (CUSB)
- Steinbach Bible College
All five competed in the final season of the CPAC in 2006-07. Steinbach Bible College no longer competes in any MCAC leagues, and 2007 was their final year of college hockey.
The Saint Boniface Voyageurs (now called Saint Boniface Les Rouges) did not compete in 2008 or 2009 but returned in 2010. After a rough campaign, they forfeited their final games.
The Providence Freemen (now called the Providence Pilots) last competed in 2009.
The league's best teams were always the ACC Cougars and the CMU Blazers. While it would be hard to characterize either of those as "varsity" teams, as opposed to "club" teams, they were the cream of the MCAC's crop.
The University of Winnipeg and Brandon University formerly operated CIS hockey teams and are current members of the MCAC. The Red River Rebels (very successful in other MCAC sports) once played intermediate hockey back in the 1970s when there was no college league for them.
Is it possible that the Cougars, Blazers, Bobcats, Wesmen, and Rebels would all revive their programs? There are also nearby schools without leagues, such as Minot State Beavers (ACHA independent), Williston State Tetons (NJCAA), and Dakota-Bottineau Lumberjacks (NJCAA).
CPAC Seasons
The final CPAC season was 2006-07. The archive at the former CPAC web site is no longer there.
2007-08 MCAC Season
Men’s Semi-Final
Men's Final
Sources:
2008-09 MCAC Season
Regular Season
Oct 26, 1988 Assiniboine College 4 - Canadian Mennonite University 4
Oct 31, 1988 Assiniboine College 1 - Providence College 1
Playoffs
Women’s Round Robin
- Canadian Mennonite University 3 - Providence College 0
- Assiniboine College 20 - Canadian Mennonite University 0
- Assiniboine College 13 - Providence College 0
Women's Final
Men’s Semi-Final
Men's Final
2009-10 MCAC Season
Regular Season
Team GP W L T Pts Assiniboine College 8 7 1 0 14 Canadian Mennonite University 7 4 3 0 8 Saint-Boniface University 7 0 7 0 0
Playoffs
Semi-final
- Feb 19 Canadian Mennonite University defeated CUSB by default
Final
- Feb 20 Assiniboine College 7 - Canadian Mennonite University 4
Also see
University links:
- Canadian Interuniversity Sport
- Canada West Universities Athletic Association
- Atlantic University Sport
- Ontario University Athletics
College links:
- Canadian Colleges Athletic Association
- Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
- British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League
- Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference
- Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Photos
2010 ACC Cougars MCAC Champions