Lethbridge – The Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team returns to home ice, hosting the front half of a home-and-home series with southern Alberta rival Calgary Dinos. Puck drops both Friday and Saturday night at 7:00pm. Saturday night's game in Calgary will be played at Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park.
 
The 'Horns (1-2-1) enter the weekend after earning one point last weekend on the road in Saskatoon versus the CIS fifth ranked Saskatchewan Huskies. After losing the series opener 3-2, the 'Horns earned a single point in a 4-3 double overtime loss.
 
Through two weekends, the 'Horns have played the conference historical powers in the Alberta Golden Bears and Huskies and shown that they can play with the top teams in the conference.
 
Senior goaltender Dylan Tait has started all four conference games this year and has been solid in the 'Horns crease. Tait has a 2.35 goals-against average and a 0.940 save percentage, while leading the conference in saves with 156.
 
Offensively, Brandon Clowes and Ryon Moser lead the way with two goals and an assist each but the 'Horns have scored the second fewest goals in the conference with eight.
 
The Dinos (1-2-1) are coming off their first win of the season, beating the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver last Saturday after dropping the season opener 4-2. During the season opening weekend, the Saskatchewan Huskies swept the Dinos in Calgary, 6-5 and 1-0.
 
Former UBC Thunderbird Steve Stanford looks to be the man in the crease for the Dinos this season, starting three of the first four games this year. The Dinos had arguably the best goalie tandem in the conference last season with Kris Lazurak and Jacob DeSerres but both left the program in the off season.
 
2014-15 Canada West second team all-star Elgin Pearce leads the Dinos with three goals and one assist and is tied for second in goals in Canada West. Chris Collins also has four points for the Dinos (1G, 3A).
 
Comparing the two teams specialty teams, they are nearly identical, the Dinos' power play is ranked fifth (17.6%) in the Conference, while the 'Horns are sixth (11.8%). Down a man, the 'Horns have the fifth best penalty killing (76.9%) and the Dinos are sixth (68.4%).
 
Last season, the Dinos won all four games versus the 'Horns, in fact over the past five years the series has heavily favored the Dinos with the 'Horns only winning one of the last 15 (1-13-2) games versus the Dinos.
 
The 'Horns will face the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend in another home-and-home series, starting Friday night in Calgary.
 
 
 
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