Brian Swane, Special to Canada West

EDMONTON – There's a new format for the Canada West basketball playoffs this year, and there are also some new faces on the scene too.

Instead of a single-game, the semifinal is now a best-of-three series and there's ample reason to believe the two matchups, which sees Regina host Calgary and Trinity Western visit Saskatchewan, could both go the dramatic distance.

The winners will advance to play each other for gold next week, while also clinching a spot in 2018 U SPORTS Final 8, March 8-11 in Regina.

As hosts of the national championship tournament, the Cougars are already assured of their ninth appearance in the last 10 years. Saskatchewan, the two-time defending conference champions and winners of the Bronze Baby in 2016, has also reached Final 8 nine times in the last decade, while Calgary competed at back-to-back nationals in 2012 and 2013.

Then there are the aforementioned new faces.

Not only has Trinity Western never reached Final 8, this is the Spartans' first time being one of Canada West's final four teams.

The semifinalists have seemed on a collision course, holding down positions near the top of the standings since the 2017-18 Canada West season tipped off four months ago. In quarter-final action last week, Regina, Calgary and Trinity Western swept their respective best-of-three series against UBC, Victoria, and Alberta, while Saskatchewan won 2-1 against reigning Player of the Year Antoinette Miller and a game Winnipeg squad. All four teams are currently ranked in the U Sports Top 10.

If Regina advances to the championship game, the losers of the semi-finals will meet next week in a bronze medal game.

You can watch all the semifinal action by tuning into Canada West TV.

(1) REGINA vs. (4) CALGARY 

At Centre For Kinesiology Health And Sport in Regina

• Game 1 – Thursday Feb. 22, 7 p.m. CST
• Game 2 – Friday Feb. 23, 7 p.m. CST
• Game 3* - Saturday Feb. 24, 7 p.m. CST

Cougars (18-2 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

• Season leaders: Kyanna Giles (17.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.0 spg), Sara Hubenig (3.5 apg), Christina McCusker (1.8 bpg)
• Key stats: 84.2 points for (4^th), 42.6% field goals (2^nd), 59.5 points against (3^rd), +7.2 rebound margin (2^nd)

Dinos (15-5 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

• Season leaders:  Brianna Ghali (14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Liene Stalidzane (2.6 apg, 2.5 spg), Bobbi-Jo Colburn (0.5 bpg), Shannon Hatch (0.5 bpg)
• Key stats: 74.8 points for (4^th), 39.3% field goals (7^th), 56.4 points against (1^st), +6.1 rebound margin (3^rd)

Regular season 

• Did not play

Recent playoff meetings

• 2016 best-of-three quarterfinal: Regina 2, Calgary 0
• 2013 championship game: Regina 53, Calgary 37

(2) SASKATCHEWAN vs. (3) TRINITY WESTERN 

At Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon

• Game 1 – Thursday Feb. 22, 7 p.m. CST
• Game 2 – Friday Feb. 23, 7 p.m. CST
• Game 3* - Saturday Feb. 24, 7 p.m. CST

Huskies (17-3 regular season, 2-1 playoffs)

• Season leaders: Sabine Dukate (16.9 ppg), Summer Masikewich (6.9 rpg), Libby Epoch (4.2 apg, 1.9 spg), Megan Lindquist (0.9 bpg)
• Key stats: 82.2 points for (2^nd), 44.0% field goals (1^st), 58.6 points against (2^nd), +12.0 rebound margin (1^st)

Spartans (16-4 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)

• Season leaders: Tessa Ratzlaff (18.4 ppg, 1.6 spg), Kayla Gordon (8.7 rpg, 0.5 bpg), Sarah Buckingham (3.6 apg)
• Key stats: 70.5 points for (6^th), 41.0% field goals (3^rd), 64.3 points against (6^th) +1.4 rebound margin (6^th)

Regular season (tied 1-1)

• Jan 19 – Trinity Western 69 at Saskatchewan 68
• Jan 20 – Trinity Western 64 at Saskatchewan 82

Recent playoff meetings

• First playoff meetinG