Lethbridge - After dropping their first two games of 2017, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team will look to get back into the win column this weekend in another home-and-home series as they take on the U Sports 10^th ranked Mount Royal Cougars.
 
The home-and-home series kicks off in Calgary Friday night at the Flames Community Arena, with the back half of the weekend set going Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Puck drop for both nights is slated for 7:00pm and both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Last weekend, the Pronghorns (8-7-3) dropped two close one goal decisions to the now U Sports seventh ranked Calgary Dinos. The 'Horns dropped a 4-3 decision Friday night in Calgary before falling 5-4 on home ice Saturday night.
 
Entering this weekend, the 'Horns trail the Cougars and Alberta Golden Bears by four points for third/fourth in Canada West and a home playoff date in opening round of the Canada West playoffs. The Cougars were also swept last weekend by the Huskies but earned a single point with an overtime loss last Saturday night.
 
The Pronghorns swept a home-and-home series with the Cougars during the first semester of conference action, beating the Cougars 3-2 and 4-1.
 
The bottom section of the standings also tightened up after last weekend, with the Manitoba Bisons moving with two points of the Pronghorns for fifth and the UBC Thunderbirds are only three point further back. In the coming two weekends, the Pronghorns will play host to both the Bisons and T-Birds.
 
Through 18 games this season, the Pronghorns have scored the fourth most goals in the conference with 59 but face the top offensive team this weekend in the Cougars, who have scored a conference leading 69 goals. Defensively the 'Horns have allowed 56 goals, compared to the Cougars 48.
 
Justin Valentino continues to lead the Pronghorns in scoring with 12 goals and six assists this season and despite not scoring a goal last weekend is still tied for the conference lead in goals. Fourth-year winger Mitch Maxwell continues to lead Canada West in assists with 15 and sits second on the 'Horns in points with 17.
 
Fifth-year captain Tim Campbell is second in Canada West defensemen scoring with five goals and eight assists.
 
For the Cougars, Connor Rankin leads all Canada West scorers this season with 11 goals and 10 assists, while former Lethbridge Hurricane Jamal Watson is second on the Cougars with 16 points as a freshman.
 
The 'Horns will remain on home ice for the next two weeks, hosting the Manitoba Bisons next weekend.