Lethbridge – Following a conference-wide bye last week, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team (0-8-0) returns to action this weekend, which begins a stretch of five games in a row on home ice.  The extended homestand starts with the Manitoba Bisons this Friday and Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
 
Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7:00pm and both games will be webcast on http://canadawest.tv.
 
To say the start of the 2014-15 season has been a struggle for the Pronghorns would be an understatement, but heading into a home-heavy part of the schedule, the 'Horns have a chance to right the ship.
 
Struggling to find consistency in their game on the road, the Pronghorns have been solid in both of their two home games this season despite losing both contests. The 'Horns opened the season with a close 2-0 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars and lost a tightly contested 3-2 game to the CIS ranked Calgary Dinos.
 
If the 'Horns are going to turn this season around, one area that can be focused on would be the play of their specialty teams. The 'Horns have only scored two power play goals in two games and are ranked seventh (6.5%)in Canada West. They are also ranked seventh in penalty killing (71.4%).
 
NCAA transfer Brandon Clowes and second-year forward Mitch Maxwell lead the 'Horns in scoring with four points apiece. Clowes is also tied for the team lead in goals with two. Defenceman Tim Campbell and Mike Forsyth have also scored twice this season.
 
For the Bisons, after opening the season with two losses, they have won five of their last six games and sit tied for fourth in the Conference. In their last action, the Bisons spilt their weekend series with the Mount Royal Cougars, losing 4-0 before returning the favor with a 1-0 win.
 
Goaltender Deven Dubyk has started seven of the Bisons' eight games and possesses a 5-2 record. He also holds a 2.00 goals-against-average and a sparkling 0.927 save percentage.
 
Offensively, the Bisons are led by Shaquille Merasty with three goals and five assists, while former Kamloops Blazer Jordan DePape leads the Bisons in goals with five.
 
Merasty  is in his first year with the Bisons after transferring from NCAA Div 3 Adrian College.
 
The 'Horns will host the Regina Cougars next weekend, with the games scheduled for Saturday night at 7:00pm and Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm.
 
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