Lethbridge - After limping into the post-season last year with a veteran-laden team, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s hockey team will be significantly younger this season.  Despite returning 15 players from last year’s team, no member of the 2012-13 team will be in more than their third year of eligibility.
 
For the first time in five years, the ‘Horns will enter the season with a question mark in the crease. Five-year stalwart Scott Bowles played out his eligibility last year and finished his career as the conference’s all-time leader in career appearances and minutes played. He also stands as the ‘Horns all-time leader in shutouts with 5.
 
Set to battle for the starting role this season is freshman Damien Ketlo, the Lethbridge Hurricanes 2011-12 MVP and Dylan Tait, also a former Hurricane. Tait made 7 appearances last season, mostly in relief appearances but put up solid numbers with a 2.89 goals-against-average and .920 save percentage.
 
In addition to the loss of Bowles, the ‘Horns are without their top three scorers from last season. Captain and leading scorer Dustin Moore and Winston Day Chief have graduated, while Taylor Gal decided to not to return for his third season. Up front, Dan Iwanski and Clayton Cumiskey will be tabbed to lead the way offensively but head coach Greg Gatto also expects big things from a trio of newcomers.
 
Former Kamloops Blazers captain Chase Schaber gives the ‘Horns a bona-fide number one centre and leadership, and former Western leaguers Cody Chikie and Killian Hutt have shown the ability to contribute offensively.
 
On the blue-line, coach Gatto has completely revamped the core which will be very young this year.  DJ McDougall, Tyler Hlookoff and Mason Conway all return but the addition of former Victoria Royals captain Hayden Rintoul, local product Cason Machacek and former OHLer’s Tim Campbell and David McMullen are set to bolster the back end.
 
The ‘Horns will play in the Canada West conference opening series, hosting their provincial rival Calgary Dinos in the front half of a home-and-home Thursday September 27.
 
For the two years in a row, the Calgary Dinos have gone to the Canada West finals but come a game short of winning the conference title.
 
Major contributors gone from last season’s Dinos are Captain Reid Jorgensen, Teigan Zahn, Dylan Hood, and  Teegan Moore, but 2011 goaltender of the year Dustin Butler returns for his final year of eligibility and Brock Nixon and Taylor Stefishen will be counted on offensively.
 
Calgary has six new players on the roster this fall, but only three of them will be true first-year players. Jesse Ismond joins the squad after enjoying a successful four year career with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice where he was teammates with fellow Dino Kevin King. After taking a year off, defencemen Alex Dzielski and Giffen Nyren decided to leave the pro level for a chance at an education while continuing their hockey careers. Dzielski won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup in 2011 with the Alaska Aces, while Nyren split his time between the Abbotsford Heat and Utah Grizzlies.
 
Puck drops Thursday night at 7:00pm at Nicholas Sheran Arena and the back half of the home-and-home series will go Friday night in Calgary at Father David Bauer. Both games will be webcast at leth.canadawest.tv