Lethbridge - The Pronghorns women’s hockey team (3-1 CW, 8-4-0 overall) are in an unfamiliar position early into the 2011-12 season, sitting in first place in the Canada West Standings. While it is only four games into the conference season, the ‘Horns have earned full marks through two weekends.

After opening the season with a road split, the Horns swept the always solid Saskatchewan Huskies during their home opener weekend but will get a good test this weekend in a home-and-homes series with the CIS fourth ranked Calgary Dinos (2-0-0 CW).

In their first action of the season last weekend, the Dinos swept perennial Canada West power Alberta Pandas in a home-and-home series. Friday night in Calgary, on the strength of Hailey Wickenheiser’s overtime goal, beat the Pandas 2-1. The next night in Edmonton the Dinos shutout the Pandas 1-0 to earn the weekend sweep.

This weekend could be a goaltenders dual, as two of the top three goalies statistically could be facing off. Sophomore Crystal Patterson has played all four games thus far and has a sparkling 1.00 goals against average with two shutouts. She also has an impressive .995 save percentage and has played the most minutes in the conference.

On the other side, Amanda Tapp played in both games this past weekend and sits atop the conference list in both goals against average and save percentage with 0.49 GAA and .969 percentage respectively.

On the offensive side of things, Jenna-Marie Durnin and Shelby Ballendine lead the way for the ‘Horns with three points apiece but a pair of freshman have been equally impressive. Sadie Lenstra has two goals early in her first season, while Kirsten Reeves has a goal and an assist.

For the Dinos, Wickenheiser, Russian national team member Iya Gavrilova and University of Alberta Transfer Stephanie Ramsey have done all the damage. All had two point weekends to open the season.

Puck drops both Friday at Nicholas Sheran Arena at 7:00pm. The game can also be viewed at www.canadawest.tv