The new look Pronghorn men’s basketball (0-0 CW, 0-4 overall) will take to the court in Canada West action for the first time this season, traveling to Winnipeg to face the Wesmen.
 
From last season, the ‘Horns only return four players from the team that finished 7-17 and missed the post-season by two games. Fourth-year Derek Waldner leads the revamped ‘Horns and Niko Kovac is the only other returnee that played significant time last season. After missing nearly the entire season, Julian Spear Chief-Morris returns from injury.
 
Of the 10 new faces the ‘Horns added this season, seven of them are coming off season’s where their respective teams finished among the tops in their leagues. Four of those recruits travel across the Old Man River from the Lethbridge College, where the Kodiaks lost in the both the ACAC and the CCAC final.
 
The Wesmen will feature six players from the 2010-2011 season. After a successful rookie season forward Kelvin Smith will look for better things in his second season. Smith finished third in team scoring with 12.0 ppg. Benny Iko (4th year) was a force last season leading the Wesmen in rebounds with 6.6 rpg while scoring 10 points per game. The team also features a pair of fifth year players in guard Craig Sharpe and forward Joshua Stolar. Both players will look to make an impact in their final seasons
 
If the Canada West coaches are accurate, the opening season series pits two closely matched teams, as the season opening Canada West coaches poll has the ‘Horns ranked eighth and the Wesmen ranked ninth in the 14 team conference.
 
The ‘Horns and Wesmen split their series last season in Lethbridge, with Winnipeg winning in overtime the first night and the ‘Horns rebounding with a eight point win the next night.
 
Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 8:00pm Friday and Saturday night, the games will also be available on www.canadawest.tv, the home of all Canada West web broadcasts.