Lethbridge – After opening the 2013 portion of the Canada West schedule last weekend on the road, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men’s hockey team (1-15-2 CW) returns to home ice, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds (9-7-2 CW) in a pair of games at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
 
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm both Friday and Saturday night  at Nicholas Sheran Arena and both games will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv.
 
The trying season for the Pronghorns continued last weekend, losing both games in Regina to the Cougars. In both games, the ‘Horns gave up late third period goals to seal their fate. They’ll be looking to put an end to the current 0-6-1 slid this weekend at home. With 10 games remaining in the season, the ‘Horns are 16 points out of the final playoff position.
 
Despite scoring a power play goal in each game last weekend, the ‘Horns are ranked at the bottom of the conference in power play percentage, operating at 13.2% efficiency. On the flip side, the ‘Horns are ranked seventh in penalty killing.
 
Chase Schraber continues to lead the ‘Horns and Canada West freshmen in scoring with eight goals and 10 assists. He is two points ahead of Saskatchewan freshman Jimmy Bubnick. Captain Dan Iwanski sits second on the ‘Horns with 12 points but has recorded at least a point in six of his last eight games.
 
With ten games remaining, the UBC Thunderbirds are in a dog fight for a home playoff date in the opening round of the Canada West post season. Currently sitting in a tie for fifth with the Regina Cougars, both teams are only a point behind the Calgary Dinos and two points behind the Manitoba Bisons for fourth and third respectively.
 
A look at the T-Birds season indicates that they can be a streaky team and enter this weekend on a slide, having lost three games in a row, but earned a single point their last time out, dropping a 2-1 decision in overtime to the Dinos Saturday night. During a four game winning streak earlier this season, the T-Birds beat the ‘Horns in Vancouver 5-1 and 3-2.
 
Offensively, the T-Birds have scored the fifth most goals in the conference with 54 goals and with only one player in the top 20 in conference scoring, they rely on scoring by committee. Max Grassi leads the team in points with 16 points but eight T-birds have at least 11 points and Cole Wilson and Scott Wasden are tied for the team’s goal scoring lead with eight apiece.
 
The ‘Horns head out on the road next weekend to visit the CIS top ranked Alberta Golden Bears before returning home in two weeks’ time to face the CIS 9^th ranked Manitoba Bisions.