Lethbridge - After missing the post season for three consecutive seasons, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's hockey program has a change at the top and first-year head coach Michelle Janus has been tasked with leading the 'Horns forward.
 
The 'Horns open the 2015-16 Canada West season this weekend traveling to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds in a pair of games. Friday night puck drops at 7:00pm PST, while Saturday's contest will go at 3:00pm PST.
 
The task will not be easy for the 'Horns with the departure of six core players from last season, which includes former Canada West all-star goaltender Crystal Patterson. Patterson was in the crease for all but 20 minutes last year. Also departed are last year's leading scorer Sadie Lenstra, Courtney Minor, Chelsea Minor, Angela Burke and Katie Mucha.
 
Freshman Alicia Anderson has stepped into the 'Horns crease and for a first-year goaltender has brought a surprising calmness to the 'Horns defense.
 
With a relatively young team, fifth-year senior Kirsten Reeves and fourth-year forwards Sarah Spence and Jenae Culp will be relied on heavily to lead the 'Horns up the Canada West standings.
 
Three years removed for their unexpected Canada West Championships, the UBC Thunderbirds proved last season that they were still one of the top teams in the conference finishing second during the regular season with a 17-6-1-4 record, but were beaten at home in the semi-finals by the Manitoba Bisons last year.
 
The T-Birds will have two important holes to fill from last year's team with the graduation of All-Canadian blue-liner Sarah Casorso and former Canada West MVP Tatiana Rafter, but still have plenty of returning veterans to keep the Thunderbirds among the team to beat.
 
Nicole Saxvik and Rebecca Unrau, who both finished in the top 15 in scoring last year return to lead UBC's attack, while in the crease the T-Birds boast a formidable tandem of Samantha Langford and Danielle Dube.
 
The 'Horns will remain on the road next week, before returning home for their 2015-16 home opener October 16^th versus the Saskatchewan Huskies.
 
 
 
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