Lethbridge - After a tough road trip to Saskatchewan that saw the Pronghorn women's hockey team drop two close contests by scores of 4-2 and 4-3 to the U of S Huskies, they are back home this weekend, playing host to the University of Regina Cougars. The games go Friday at 7:00pm and Saturday at 1:00pm at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
 
Both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Starting the season 8-2-0, the Pronghorns seem to have fallen back down to earth, with only one win in their last ten. The Pronghorns will have to find their game on home ice (3-5-0 record) to capitalize on a two-game set against a Cougars team that struggles on the road. Fourth in Canada West, the Cougars are stellar at home (6-2-1), but hold a record below .500 on the road (4-5-0).
 
The Cougars come into the weekend leading Canada West in goals for with 47, but also allow the second-most in the conference, with 44 getting by their 'tenders. The 'Horns struggle to find the back of the net, posting only 33 goals so far this season, and allowing 45, the most in the conference.
 
Special teams will likely be the deciding factor of the two games this weekend, as the 2^nd (Pronghorns) and 3^rd (Cougars) ranked powerplays will go head-to-head. The Pronghorns have had 75 chances on the PP, and buried 15 times, good for a 20.0% rate, while the Cougars have earned 78 opportunities and scored 13 times, good for a 16.7% rate. The Cougars have the advantage on the kill, ranking 4^th in the conference and boasting an 88.2% success rate. The 'Horns are ranked last in the conference with 76.4% of penalties killed.
 
Each team features some impressive rookies in their line-ups. The Cougars are led offensively by Jaycee Magwood, who has put up 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 18 games, good enough to put her 2^nd in the whole CIS, behind only Iya Gavrilova of the U of C Dinos. For the Pronghorns, their bright future is between the pipes. Alicia Anderson boasts an impressive rookie record of 8-6-1 and has been tested the most of any female goaltender in the CIS, facing 499 shots and stopping 463.
 
Other players to watch this weekend are fourth-year Kylie Gavelin of the Cougars, who impresses offensively, scoring at a rate of 1.12 PPG, and fourth-year Jocelyn Sabourin of the Pronghorns, an offensive defenseman with 9 points on the season.
 
Next weekend, the Pronghorns Women's Hockey team will be in Winnipeg to take on the University of Manitoba Bisons.
 
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