Canada West, Shaw TV release 2011 CIS Football schedule

In 2011, Shaw TV will broadcast 7 Canada West football regular season games, plus semifinal action in November.

EDMONTON – The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and Shaw Communications continue their long-standing relationship with the live broadcast of seven CWUAA football games and semifinal action during the 2011 season.

“Shaw TV is once again pleased to present a great television schedule for the 2011 Canada West regular football season and semifinals as a lead up to this year’s Vanier Cup hosted in Vancouver.” said Alex Park, VP Interactive Programming Shaw Communications. He added, “Our customers really appreciate our weekly western Canada coverage from September through November every year and our broadcast team is all set for the opening kickoff in Winnipeg on September 3rd.”

All six Canada West football teams will make an appearance on Shaw TV in 2011. Showing live three times are the three-time defending Hardy Cup champion Calgary Dinos, also a finalist in the last two Vanier Cup championships. The Dinos kickoff the seven-game slate on Shaw when they face the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg on the afternoon of Saturday, September 3rd.
Canada West Football

Also with a trio of televised games are veteran head coach Brian Towriss and the Saskatchewan Huskies, along with the powerful Regina Rams, led by fifth-year QB Marc Mueller. In fact, the provincial rivals will go head-to-head twice this season, with both on Shaw TV – the first at the Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on the evening of Friday, Sept. 9th and again in the return match at Regina on Saturday, October 22nd.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba take to the field before a live western audience on Saturday, Sept. 17th and a mid-season provincial match-up takes place in Calgary on Sunday, Oct. 2nd when the Dinos host Alberta in the Golden Bears’ lone 2011 television broadcast.

After falling short of the playoffs one year ago the UBC Thunderbirds will be flying high as they host two late-season games in Vancouver scheduled to be broadcast live. On Saturday, Oct. 15th the T-Birds host Regina, then on the final day of the regular season the Dinos come to town.

With each teams having just eight conference games and many top student-athletes graduating to the Canadian Football League, each contest is crucial in the battle for one of four playoff spots at season’s end. Once again this season Hardy Cup semifinal action will be seen live on Shaw TV, with teams and times to be announced ahead of the November 5th weekend.
This is the final year of the most recent two-year agreement between Canada West Athletics and Shaw Communications.

2011 CIS FOOTBALL ON SHAW TV

Saturday, Sept. 3 – Calgary at Manitoba 1:00 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 9 – Regina at Saskatchewan 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17 – Saskatchewan at Manitoba 1:00 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 2 – Alberta at Calgary 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 15 – Regina at UBC 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 22 – Saskatchewan at Regina 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 29 – Calgary at UBC 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5 – Canada West semifinals (4@1) (3@2)

About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 14 schools (15 on Sept. 1, 2011), from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games.
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).