Lethbridge – Sitting three games above the .500 mark, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team returns to action after the semester break and will look to continue to push up the Canada West standings as they face their provincial rival Calgary Dinos in a home-and-home series.
 
The weekend set kicks off Friday night in Calgary before returning to Lethbridge the next night. Puck drops both nights at 7:00pm and the action of both games can be caught on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Following one of the most successful opening semesters in recent memory, the Pronghorns (8-5-3) sit in fifth place in the conference but are in a dog fight for playoff positioning as only five points separate the top five teams in Canada West. The Dinos (10-5-1) sit tied for third only two points ahead of the Pronghorns.
 
The 'Horns entered the semester break on a hot streak, winning five of their last six games, but will look to exact some revenge on Calgary after the Dinos swept the 'Horns in late October.
 
Through 16 games, the 'Horns have scored the fourth most goals in Canada West with 52, while the Dinos have only scored 45 goals thus far but have allowed the second fewest goals against in Canada West with 39.
 
Like his team, third-year Pronghorn Justin Valentino looks to pick up where he left off in 2016. Valentino is tied for the conference lead in goals with 12 and leads the Pronghorns with 17 points. Mitch Maxwell sits second with 16 points and his 15 assists leads all players in Canada West.
 
For the Dinos, Elgin Pearce leads the way for his team with nine goals and seven assists in 16 games. Dylan Walchuk is two points behind Pearce for the team lead in points.
 
In the crease, first-year Dino Matthew Greenfield had a stellar first half of the season and leads the conference in save percentage (0.965) and goals-against-average (0.86) in six appearances.
 
Pronghorn freshman Garret Hughson has also had a solid start to his university career, playing in 13 of the 'Horns 16 games during the first semester and holds a 2.93 goals-against-average and a 0.914 save percentage.
 
The 'Horns will face another home-and-home series next weekend, taking on the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary Friday night before hosting the Cougars Saturday night.