Lethbridge – The new look Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team hits the ice in their first conference games of the season this weekend and will get a stiff early season test to see where they are at, hosting the two-time defending CIS Champion Alberta Golden Bears.
 
Puck drops Friday and Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena at 7:00pm.
 
With the overhaul of the Pronghorn roster, 14 players exiting and 15 new players entering, the 'Horns season will be defined by a culture shift. Entering his second season as head coach Spiros Anastas has definitely attempted to put his stamp on the program.
 
The shift in culture began last year and now is where coach Anastas believes it will take off. Everyone is a key player in the buy-in process. From the staff to the players there is a strong belief in the dressing room that if the team sticks to the process, and only worries about the things that they can control, the team will find success.
 
The whole goal during the recruiting process was to improve the skill level around his core players and the staff believes that the incoming group has achieved that goal. Lethbridge native and third-year centre Brock Hirsche was named team captain in the off season and himself along with key returnees, Mitch Maxwell, Brandon Clowes, Ryon Moser and Tim Campbell will be tasked to lead this young group down the right course.
 
The 'Horns completed a positive non-conference schedule this past weekend, finishing with a 6-2 record, including a win over Western Michigan last weekend.
 
Coming off their second consecutive CIS Championship, the Golden Bears were not without their fair share of change either. The most notable difference is the departure of head coach Ian Herbers, who accepted an assistant coach position with the Edmonton Oilers.
 
Taking over behind the bench is Bear Alum and former assistant Coach Serge Lajoie, who spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the NAIT Ooks.
 
Also departed from last year's team are Canada West leading scorer TJ Foster, starting goaltender Kurtis Mucha and CIS defenceman of the year Jesse Craig.
 
While the departures are significant, the Golden Bears cupboard is far from bare. Jordan Hickmont, who finished second in conference scoring last year, returns to lead the Bears offensively. Levko Koper and Kruse Reddick will also be key cogs in the Bears attack.
 
Luke Siemens assumes the starting role in the Alberta crease. Siemens went 10-2 with a 2.06 goals-against average last season in 12 appearances.
 
 
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