The men’s hockey team (2-2-1 CW, 2-6-1 overall) returns to action after a successful first road trip, taking three of four points from the Saskatchewan Huskies. After earning 3-1 victory to open the weekend, the ‘Horns lost a close 3-2 game in overtime Saturday.

The ‘Horns will open a home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos (3-3-0 CW) Friday night in Calgary, before returning home for the back half Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

It has been an up and down start for the Dinos this season, highlighted by an impressive weekend sweep of the defending Canada West Champion Alberta Golden Bears last weekend. The Dinos beat the Bears 4-3 in overtime and 2-1. The Dinos were swept at home by the Manitoba Bisons to open the season and had a shootout win and a loss to the UBC Thunderbirds in their other action.

The reigning CIS goaltender of the year Dustin Butler is off to another good start for the Dinos. He has tended the net for all three of the Dino victories this season and sports a solid 2.17 goals against average in four games.

His likely counterpart this weekend, ‘Horns goaltender Scott Bowles is coming off his best weekend of the season thus far and was named the Canada West male athlete of the week after his outstanding performance versus the Huskies. Bowles stopped 62 of the 65 shots he faced and moved his save percentage closer to the .900 mark.

Lethbridge native Taylor Gal continues to lead the ‘Horns offensively with four goals and three assists in the first five games, while Captain Dustin Moore has also had a solid start to the season with three goals and two assists in five games. Freshman Cass Mappin has also an impact to begin his collegiate career with three goals.

For the Dinos, Freshman and former Saskatoon Blade Teigan Zahn leads all point producers on the Calgary roster with seven assists, while another Dino new comer Taylor Stefishen has four goals to open his first season with the Dinos. Stefishen played two seasons with Ohio State in the NCAA before playing out his junior eligibility last season with the Prince George Cougars in the WHL.

The front half of the home-and-home goes Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena. Puck drops at 7:00pm. Nicholas Sheran Arena will play host to the second game of the series Saturday night at 7:00pm. Saturday night’s game can also be watched at www.canadawest.tv