Lethbridge – After having their best first half of the season in school history, the women’s hockey team (10-4-0 CW, 15-7-0 overall) returns to action this weekend traveling to Saskatoon for a first place battle with the Saskatchewan Huskies (10-4-0 CW).
 
While the ‘Horns and Huskies will battle for the lead in the conference this weekend, there is a log jam atop the conference standings and every weekend of the second half will be important. Five teams are within four points of each other and only four playoff positions will set up an exciting second half of the season. Sitting on the ‘Horns and Huskie heels are the Alberta Pandas (7-2-5) with 19 points, the Calgary Dinos (9-3) at 18 points and two games in hand and the Manitoba Bisons (7-5-2) at 16 points. 

Since 1997-98, the Huskies have a 26-12-3 record against Lethbridge. In their first meetings in the 2011-12 season, the Pronghorns completed the sweep with 4-1 and 1-0 victories in Lethbridge on October 21 and 22.
 
Horns Looking to Build on First Half
Strong defensive play has been the key to the ‘Horns success to this point of the season. The ‘Horns have allowed the second fewest goals in the conference and the strong play of goaltender Crystal Patterson has been a key contributor to the stingy defense. Patterson leads Canada West in wins with 10, save percentage at 0.951 and shutouts with 5. She has also been in goal for every minute this season for the ‘Horns and has the second best goals-against-average in Canada West at 1.34.
 
The ‘Horns sit right in the middle of the pack offensively with 34 goals scored but an improved power play over the final weekends of the first semester has kick started the ‘Horns offence. After opening the season without a goal in their first 24 opportunities, the ‘Horns have scored 11 times in their past 41 power play chances and have moved up to fourth in overall PP percentage.
 
Shelby Ballendine and Jenna-Marie Durnin lead the way offensively with 12 points apiece. Rookies Kirsten Reeves and Sadia Lenstra both had exceptional first semesters for the ‘Horns and are the top two scoring freshman in the conference. Reeves has scored 6 times and added four assists, while Lenstra leads the ‘Horns with 7 goals.
 
Streaking Huskies
Heading into the break, the Huskies were riding a four game winning streak after weekend sweeps of conference’s two bottom teams in the UBC Thunderbirds and Regina Cougars.

Four Huskies sit in the Top 10 in conference scoring including Julie Paetsch, Cara Wooster, Danny Stone and Breanne George. Paetsch leads Canada West in scoring with eight goals and 12 assists. Wooster has added five goals and nine assists, while Stone has tallied five goals and eight assists. George has pitched in with eight goals and three assists.

Between the pipes, former Pronghorn Mackenzie Rizos has carried the bulk of the load, playing in 10 of the Huskies 14 games and sports a solid 1.96 goals-against-average and a 0.924 save percentage with two shutouts.

Puck drop is 7 p.m. each night at Rutherford Rink. The game will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv , home of all Canada West webcasts.
 
 
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