Lethbridge – The Pronghorn women’s hockey team (13-7-2 CW) took a huge step closer to their first post-season appearance in five seasons last weekend sweeping the defending Canada West champion Manitoba Bisons in their own rink. Now their sights are set on clinching that playoff spot in their final home series of the season, hosting the Regina Cougars (6-13-1 CW).
 
With the sweep last weekend, the ‘Horns moved five points ahead of the Bisions for the fourth and final playoff position in Canada West, and despite the Bisons holding two games in hand, the ‘Horns can clinch that position with a combination of a win and Bison loss, or earning at least three points this weekend.
 
The puck drops both Friday and Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena at 7:00pm and both games can be watched at www.canadawest.tv , home off all Canada West webcasts.
 
Horns Look to end Best season in style
The 13 wins that the women ‘Horns have already earned this season is the best ever in school history. Prior to this season, seven wins was the most the women’s hockey program had ever earned, achieved twice in 2002-03 and 2005-06.
 
This weekend will also mark the final conference games for a pair of Pronghorns. Leading scorer Shelby Ballendine and forward Megan Bach will suit up in their final home games as ‘Horns this weekend with both using up their final year of eligibility this season. Ballendine is sixth in the conference in scoring with 9 goals and 11 assists.
 
Freshman Sadie Lenstra is the lone rookie in the top 20 in conference scoring and sits second on the ‘Horns with 9 goals and 9 assists.
With her sixth shutout of the season last weekend, Crystal Patterson is tied for third on the Canada West all-time single season shutout list and continues to have a stellar second season with the ‘Horns. Patterson sits fourth in Canada West in goals-against-average with a 1.90 GAA and third in save percentage at 0.932.
 
The ‘Horns will have a bye next weekend with the hopes that they have clinched a playoff spot and not have to rely on help from the Calgary Dinos, who will travel to Winnipeg to face the Bisons on the final weekend of the conference schedule.
 
Cougars Playing for Next Season
Having already been eliminated from post-season contention and only having two seniors, the Regina Cougars will use the final two weekends of the conference schedule to build momentum for the 2012-13 season.
 
With 22 players eligible to return next season, including the team’s leading scorer Paige Wheeler, the Cougars will be a much more experience team next season. Wheeler is the lone Cougar in the top 20 in conference scoring with 9 goals and 5 assists. The Cougars had nine freshmen on this season’s team, highlighted by goaltender Jennifer Schimdt, who has split time in the crease with senior Lisa Urban this season. Schmidt has a respectable 2.47 GAA and 0.923 save percentage in 11 appearances.
 
The Cougars will host the Alberta Pandas next weekend in their season finale.