Box Score
CALGARY – On opening night for the 2017-18 Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorns carried a 1-0 lead into the third period but couldn't hold on, allowing four goals in the final frame and dropping a 4-1 decision to the Calgary Dinos, Friday night at the Father David Bauer Arena.
 
"This is a tough league, you can't play 50 mins of great hockey and expect to win," said head coach Spiros Anastas. "Teams like Calgary only need a couple opportunities to capitalize and that's exactly what they did tonight"
 
"There are a lot of positives in our game right now, most notably the play of our goaltenders and defence. Ty was outstanding tonight but we have to piece it together for 60 mins to have success in this league"
 
Lethbridge opened the scoring early, as just 1:24 into the game, Pronghorns captain Mitchell Maxwell flipped the puck towards the goal and it took a wild deflection off a Dino skate before fluttering past the blocker of Calgary goaltender Matt Greenfield. Justin Valentino and Blake Orban drew assists on the play.
 
Following the goal, the Dinos were gifted a great opportunity to tie the game in the form of an extended 5-on-3 powerplay, but failed to convert. Dinos first-year forward Matt Alfaro also had a goal waved off following the man advantage, as the Dinos remained scoreless in the first. Pronghorn goalkeeper Ty Edmonds made 17 saves through the first 20. 
 
Following a scoreless second where both sides traded chances, the Dinos opened up the game in the third period. Rookie forward Chris Rauckman got the Dinos on the board, following a 3-on-2 rush:
 
Seven minutes later, Calgary took the lead for good. A beautiful passing play down low was finished off by forward Coda Gordon, as Gordon played give-and-go with forward Cain Franson before burying the puck. 
 
That goal would hold up as the winner, as the Dinos added two insurance markers, courtesy of defender Brayden Sherbinin and forward Chris Collins. 
 
Greenfield stood tall for the Dinos, ending the game with 26 saves.
 
These two teams resume action tomorrow night, Saturday, 7 p.m. at the Nicholas Sheran Arena in Lethbridge. The game can be streamed live on Canadawest.tv