Lethbridge – Coming off their third consecutive series split, the Lethbridge Pronghorns women's hockey team hits the road, traveling to Vancouver to face the two-time defending Canada West Champion UBC Thunderbirds.
 
Puck drop for the weekend set is slated at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, Friday at 7:00pm and Saturday at 2:00, both Pacific Time and both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
A season ago, The Thunderbirds swept the season series with the Pronghorns, but two of the four were one goal games. In Lethbridge, the T-Birds won 5-1 and 4-3 in overtime and in Vancouver the T-Birds won by scores of 1-0 and 3-0.
 
A look at the teams
 
Through three weekends of the season, the Pronghorns (1-3-2-0) have won each Friday and then lost Saturday's game. Two of the three Pronghorn wins have come in overtime. The Pronghorns have allowed the fewest goals in Canada West, allowing only nine goals against in six games. However, they have scored the second fewest goals in Canada West with eight.
 
Last weekend, the Pronghorns scored their first power play goal of the season but are still ranked seventh overall in Canada West (4.8%). Down a player, the Pronghorns have the top ranked penalty killing, allowing only one goal against during 22 times shorthanded.
 
The U SPORTS second ranked Thunderbirds (4-2-0) enter the weekend after splitting their previous series with the Regina Cougars. Statistically, the Thunderbirds are tied for the most goals scored in Canada West with 17 and have allowed the third fewest against (11).
 
Entering the weekend, the T-Birds hold the fourth ranked power play (15.6%) and sixth ranked penalty killing (81.8%).
 
Players to watch
 
Goaltender Alicia Anderson has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Pronghorns and has given her team a chance to win every single night. In six games, Anderson holds a spectacular 0.957 save percentage and leads Canada West in saves with 211. She also sports a 1.55 goals-against average.
 
Fourth-year defender Jodi Gentile took over the Pronghorns scoring lead after assisting on three of the Pronghorns four goals in a 4-1 win over MRU last Friday. She has four assists total in six games. First-year forward Alli Borrow has scored a goal in each of the last two Friday night wins.
 
Mathea Fischer leads the Thunderbirds in scoring with six assists, while Celine Tardif and Brielle Bellerive each have five points. Tardif is tied for the team lead in goals with three.
 
In the crease, Tory Micklash has recorded three of her teams four wins and holds a 1.62 goals-against average and a 0.943 save percentage.
 
All of Canada West hockey will have a bye next weekend. The following weekend, the Pronghorns will host the defending U SPORTS Champion Alberta Pandas.