Lethbridge – Coming off a “three point” weekend, the men’s hockey team (4-11-3 CW, 4-16-4 overall) are back in action this weekend versus southern Alberta rival Calgary Dinos (9-9-0 CW) in a home-and-home series that begins in Lethbridge Friday night.
 
Puck drop is scheduled at 7:00pm both Friday and Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena and Calgary’s father David Bauer respectively. Friday night’s game can be watched atwww.canadawest.tv , the home off all Canada West webcasts.
 
Friday's Horns men's hockey game is also proudly sponsored by Bert and Macs, all University of Lethbridge students get in free. Visit the Customer Service desk or Bert and Macs for free student tickets.
 
Horns move into playoff spot
Last weekend the Horns opened the weekend rallying from 3 goals down to earn an overtime point versus the conference best Saskatchewan Huskies in the restart of the October 1 suspended game.  The Horns then split the regular scheduled weekend set with a 5-2 loss Friday, before another third period rally lifted the ‘Horns to a 3-2 win Saturday night. With the three point weekend, the ‘Horns leap-frogged the Regina Cougars for the 6^th place in the conference and more importantly, the final playoff spot.
 
Specialty teams played a key role in the outcomes last weekend, and after struggling much of the season on the power play, the ‘Horns scored seven times last weekend on the power play and moved up to fourth in the conference in PP percentage at 17.8%. Conversely, the ‘Horns also allowed 5 power play goals and saw their penalty killing drop to the bottom of the conference, operating at 72.4%.
Team scoring leader and Captain Dustin Moore led the way for the “Horns with four goals, including a natural hat trick Friday night in the third period of the suspended game. Moore is tied for 7^th in Canada West scoring with 12 goals and 7 assists. Sophomore Taylor Gal also had a strong weekend, registering 5 assists versus the Huskies and sits second on the team in scoring with 15 points (6G 9A).
 
Dinos Slumping
Being swept on either side of the semester break, the Dinos enter the weekend series marred in a four game losing streak but lead the season series with the ‘Horns 2-0 after sweeping the ‘Horns in October with 5-1 and 4-1 victories.
 
The Dinos were swept by the Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in another home-and-home series, losing 3-2 at home Friday night and 4-2 the next night in Edmonton.  Despite their recent struggles, the Dinos sit among the best in the conference in both specialty team units. The Dinos hold the best penalty killing unit in the conference at 87.6% and the second best power play, operating at 19.8%.
Brock Nixon and Taylor Stefishen lead the way offensively for Calgary with 16 and 17 points respectively, while reigning CIS goaltender of the year Dustin Butler has seen his numbers slump a bit this season with a 2.70 goals-against-average, but is second in Canada West with 8 wins.