Lethbridge – Following a bye during the opening weekend of the Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team (0-0-0 CW) see their first conference action this weekend, traveling to Regina to face the Regina Cougars (0-2-0 CW).
 
With one the youngest team in the conference last season, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team suffered through a difficult and injury plagued year, finishing at the bottom of the conference with a dismal 2-22-4 record.
 
The 'Horns did not dress a full line up for a single game during the second half of the year due to numerous injuries and only had six players play in all 28 games.
 
While the 'Horns will still not graduate a player after this season, they do have 15 players back from the 2012-13 campaign and will be a more experienced group.
 
After scoring a conference low 54 goals last season, head coach Greg Gatto hopes key additions to the forward ranks will pay dividends this season. Former Swift Current Bronco Ryon Moser, southern Alberta product Mitchell Maxwell, and MJHL MVP Guillaume Naud should bolster the 'Horns attack. Moser had over 40 points in both of his final two seasons in the WHL, while Maxwell, who is coming of a two-year Church of Latter Day Saints mission, scored 29 goals for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2010. 
 
Former QMJHL player, Naud finished his junior career in Manitoba with the Dauphin Kings, where he scored 32 goals and put up 88 points in 60 games.
 
The youth continues for the 'Horns on the backend with all but one of the defensemen having used more than two years of eligibility. David McMullen and Tim Campbell will look to build off solid freshmen campaigns and the addition of NCAA transfer Corbin Karl should bolster 'Horns top two pairings.
 
Both Damien Ketlo and Dylan Tait return between the pipes, but the wild card for the 'Horns this season could be the addition of Alex Sirard, who transfers from Selkirk College where he was named the BCIHL's top goaltender and playoff MVP.  Only time will tell if his play will transfer to the CIS level.

With seven of their first eight games on the road to start the season the 'Horns will need to get off on the right foot if they are to challenge for a playoff spot this season.
 
The Cougars got off to a rocky start last weekend, dropping both of their games to the Calgary Dinos at home in Regina. The Cougars lost by 5-2 and 4-1 scores.

Brock Appleyard led the way for the Cougars offensively during the opening weekend, scoring two of the three Cougar goals.

Andrew Hayes and Lucas Gore split the goaltending duties during the losses and both netminders have a save percentage under 0.900%.
 
Face-off for both Friday and Saturday night's games are set for 7:00pm at the Co-Operators Centre in Regina. Both games will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv, home to all Canada West webcasts.
 
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