Lethbridge – With only four weeks left in the conference schedule, the Lethbridge Pronghorns head out on the road to face a nationally ranked opponent for the first of two straight weeks. This week, the 'Horns head east to Winnipeg to face the U Sports sixth ranked Manitoba Bisons.
 
The Pronghorns and Bisons will hit the ice in Winnipeg Friday night at 7pm and Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm Central Standard time. Both games will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Heading into the final eight games of the Canada West season the Lethbridge Pronghorns (3-13-1-3) remain mathematically alive in the hunt for a playoff spot but the path to the post season is quickly diminishing as their two losses last weekend to the Mount Royal Cougars, are 11 points back of Mount Royal for the final spot.
 
The Bisons (10-5-3-2) sit comfortably in third place in Canada West but enter this weekend's action having lost three of their last five games. In their last action the Bisons spilt a series at home with the U Sports top ranked UBC Thunderbirds.
 
During the opening weekend of conference play, the Bisons swept the Pronghorns in Lethbridge with 2-0 and 6-1 victories.
 
On Paper this weekend's series would be considered a mismatch with the Bisons holding the advantage in almost every statistical category. The Bisons have score the second most goals (59) in the conference, while allowing the third fewest (34). The Pronghorns are tied for the fewest goals for (30) in Canada West and have allowed the second most goals against (64).
 
The Bisons have the top ranked power play (23.8%) in Canada West and rank second in penalty killing (90.9%), while the Pronghorns are ranked seventh in both categories (PP 9.6%, PK 80.6%)
 
Players to Watch:
 
Pronghorns' goaltender Alicia Anderson has made nearly 250 more saves than any other goal in the conference with 641 saves in 16 games. She holds a 3.00 goals-against-average and a 0.927 save percentage. Tricia Van Vaerenberg leads Lethbridge in scoring with four goals and four assists. Jodi Gentile and Janae Culp sit second with seven points each.
 
Not surprising with having the second best offence in the conference, the Bisons have three players in the top 12 scorers in Canada West. Lauryn Keen is third with Canada West scoring with six goals and 13 assists. Venla Hovi sits ninth with 15 points.
 
Rachel Dyck has seen majority of the action in the Bison crease, making 15 appearances and sports a sparkling 1.47 goals-against-average.
 
Next weekend, the Pronghorns well head west and face the U Sports number one ranked UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver.
 
 
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