Box Score
Lethbridge - Despite netting three goals in the third period, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns dropped a close 4-3 decision, Friday night, against the visiting University of Calgary Dinos.
 
Damien Ketlo got the start for Lethbridge, and faced a total of 40 shots on the night, while Hovdebo got the start for Calgary and turned aside all but 3 of the 26 shots he faced.
 
Chris Collins, and Spencer Edwards each net individual markers for the Dinos, while Dylan Busemius added two on the night. Tim Campbell, Cass Mappin, and Brandon Clowes each scored for Lethbridge.
 
The loss drops the 'Horns record to 1-3-1 on the season, while the Dinos improve to 2-2-1 on the season.
 
Dinos opened scoring midway through the first frame. Kevin King's shot deflected off a Lethbridge defender which allowed Busenius to coral the loose puck and put a shorthanded marker past Ketlo from the bottom of the circle, at 9:33.
 
Early in the second, Kevin King went hard to the net with speed but his hard wrist shot was no match for the quick glove of Ketlo, who confidently shut down the scoring chance to keep his team within one.
 
Calgary continued to build momentum throughout the period. Coda Gordon left a great drop pass for Kevin King but he just over-skated the puck. Dylan Walchuck kept the puck in scoring territory and he quickly unloaded a hard shot from the top of the circle but his effort was stonewalled by the Lethbridge keeper. 
 
The Dinos offensive pressure paid off later in the frame, as two quick goals widened the lead to three. Collins net the second goal of the night, at 14:03. Spencer Edwards was credited with the third Calgary goal, from Drydn Dowe and Adam Kambeitz. An off-target shot went wide and hit the far boards and somehow managed to bounce back and deflect in off a 'Horns defender and past Ketlo. Calgary outshot the home team 15-7 in the second period.
 
Campbell put the 'Horns on the board as the third period neared the halfway mark. A great pass from Mitch Maxwell allowed the fourth-year forward to connect with the puck and capitalize on a great scoring chance.
 
Busemius added an insurance marker in the final minutes of regulation, his second of the night, but Lethbridge answered right back. Clowes net his third of the season, at 17:14. And it didn't stop there. With less than two minutes remaining on the clock, the Horns struck again, this time courtesy of Cass Mappin. With Ketlo coming to the bench for an extra attacker, a flurry of bodies were well positioned in front of Hovdebo and Mappin got his stick on the puck for his second of the year, bringing the Horns within one.
 
Kevin King was called for cross-checking in the final minute of play, which meant Lethbridge would have one final push to net an equalizing goal, but that would be as close as they would come.

Game two of the home-and-home series goes tomorrow night, at Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park, in Calgary. Game time is set for 7pm.


-30-