Lethbridge – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorn women’s hockey team (5-6-3 CW) will close out the first semester of conference action with a home-and-home series versus the conference leading and CIS second ranked Calgary Dinos (11-2-1 CW).
 
The weekend set begins Friday night in Lethbridge, puck drops at 7:00pm at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Game two will go Saturday night in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena at 6:00pm. Both games will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv .
 
The first half of the conference schedule has continued to be an up and down one for the Pronghorns. Of the seven weekend series’ the ‘Horns have played to date, five have resulted in series splits and the ‘Horns have not been able to string together consecutive wins as of yet.
 
With the conference as tight as it is this season, a hot streak or slump could drastically change the playoff picture for any team in the conference. Sitting exactly at the half way mark of the season, the ‘Horns sit in sixth place in the conference but are only five points out of second place. The ‘Horns are also only two points ahead of last place Manitoba Bisons.
 
Still ranked near the bottom offensively, the ‘Horns are led by Megan Bailey and Sarah Spence with 10 points in 14 games. Spence had a break out game last Saturday, leading the ‘Horns to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies. She had a three point game, scoring both the tying and overtime winning goals.
 
The Dinos, one of two teams to separate themselves from the pack in Canada West, enter the weekend riding a three game winning streak and look to take a strangle hold on the conference as the first semester winds down. Leading the second place Regina Cougars by three points, the Dinos have been potent offensively this season, scoring 10 more goals that their nearest rival and are averaging 3.35 goals for, while only allowing less than two goals against.
 
The defending CIS champion Dinos have four players in the top seven in conference scoring and are led by Russian National team member Iya Gavrilova and Jenna Smith with 16 points apiece. Gavrilova is tied with four other players, which includes ‘Horns Kirsten Reeves, for the goal scoring lead with eight. In only eight games this season, Hailey Wickenheiser has five goals and nine assists.
 
The Dinos swept the ‘Horns to open the 2012-13 Canada West season with 4-1 and 5-2 victories.