Lethbridge – Heading into the final two weekends of the conference schedule, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team heads to Edmonton to face the sixth ranked Alberta Golden Bears with valuable points on the line for both teams.
 
Puck drops at Clare Drake Arena, Friday night at 7:00pm and Saturday night at 6:00pm. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.
 
In their last action, the Pronghorns (10-11-3) put an end to their six game slid with a pair of wins over the UBC Thunderbirds but they did allow the T-Birds to pick up a valuable single point in Saturday's overtime game and that point could come back to haunt the Pronghorns. The Pronghorns have a four point cushion on the T-Birds but UBC hosts the last place Regina Cougars this weekend and travel to Calgary to face the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend.
 
With their sweep of the Mount Royal Cougars last weekend, the Bears (16-7-1) took over sole possession of second place in Canada West but only four points separates the Bears, Cougars and Calgary Dinos for second place and bye in the first round of playoffs.
 
Look at both teams statistically
 
Through 24 games, the Pronghorns have a goal differential of -9 (80GF, 89GA) but rank fifth in goals scored. The Bears have allowed the second fewest goals against in Canada West with 63 and have a goal differential of +24. The Bears also come into the weekend with the conference's top ranked penalty killing at 88.8%. The Pronghorns are ranked fifth in both specialty team categories. With the man advantage, the Pronghorns are operating at 16.7% but scored three power play goals in their 8-7 overtime win last Saturday. While shorthanded the Pronghorns kill off 81.4% of their penalties and have scored four time shorthanded. Bears lead the conference in shorthanded goals with nine.
 
Players to Watch
 
Justin Valentino continues to have his best season as a Pronghorn, sitting second in conference scoring with 27 points and is tied for the Canada West goal scoring lead with 15. His previous season high was six goals and 18 points last year.
 
Freshman defenseman Clint Filbrandt was named the Canada West male third star of the week last week after six points in two games. He sits fifth in defenseman scoring and is second among rookie blueliners with 16 points.
 
Jamie Crooks leads the Bears in scoring this season with 15 goals, tied with Valentino, and 11 assists, while freshman Tyson Baillie leads all Canada West freshman in scoring with 23 points.
 
Freshman goaltender Brendan Burke, son of former NHLer Sean, has started the last four games in the Bears crease and now leads the conference in goals-against-average (1.73) and save percentage (0.932).
 
The Pronghorns will host the second ranked and conference leading Saskatchewan Huskies next weekend in the final weekend of conference play.
 
 
 
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