Box Score

Lethbridge – In the front half of a home-and-home series between southern Alberta rivals, the Calgary Dinos drew first blood with a 5-3 victory.
 
After taking three of four points from the Saskatchewan Huskies a week ago, the Pronghorns were hampered by ill-timed turnovers and the loss drops their record to 2-2-1. The Dinos scored twice in the first and third periods to snap a two-game losing streak and improved their record to 3-2-0 on the season.
 
The Dinos opened the scoring just past the six minute mark of the opening frame. Freshman Mac Colasimone's centering attempt went off the 'Horns keeper and in for his first Canada West goal.
 
Off a Pronghorn turnover, the Dinos would double the lead. Elgin Pearce banged home a rebound after a failed Dino 2-on-1 break.
 
The 'Horns would finally respond less than two minutes later. Captain Tim Campbell sprung Dalton Sward for a breakaway from the Dino blue line and Sward beat Dino keeper Steven Stanford five-hole to cut the Dino lead in half.
 
Shots after the first were tied at nine apiece.
 
After having some early chances, Justin Valentino brought the 'Horns even, beating Stanford high to the glove. The goal was Valentino's team leading fourth of the season.
 
The Maxwell brothers nearly gave the 'Horns their first lead of the game with four minutes to play in the second. Russ threw a long saucer pass cross ice to Mitch, who attempted the pull the puck across the net but Stanford got a toe on it to keep the game knotted at two.
 
With the power play, Pearce picked his second of the night to regain the Dinos lead before the period was out. Pearce's sharp angle shot eluded Hughson between his body and glove arm.
 
The 'Horns did have a late power play to get back even but they could not capitalize.
 
Shots favored the 'Horns 9-7 in the second period, but the Dinos went to the locker room with a one goal lead.
 
Just as a 'Horns penalty expired early in the third, the Dinos went back up by two. With a juicy rebound laying in the slot, Chris Collins just got enough of the puck to slide it past a scrambling Hughson.
 
While the 'Horns pushed to close the gap and had a pair of power plays, they could not take advantage and with just under five minutes remaining, the Dinos salted the game away with their fifth of the night. Off a 'Horns turnover deep in their own end, Cain Franson pulled the puck to the slot and beat Hughson high glove.
 
In his first game as a Pronghorn, Evan Wardley returned after nearly a year away from hockey due to injury and scored his first Canada West goal with less than a minute remaining to cut the lead to two but that was as close as they would get.
 
The 'Horns finished the night outshooting the Dinos 32-25, while the Dinos were 1-for-4 with the man advantage, while the 'Horns went scoreless in four opportunities.
 
The back half of the home-and-home series goes tomorrow night in Calgary at Father David Bauer Arena, puck drops at 6:00pm.