REGINA – Sam McKechnie's late goal broke a 2-2 tie and handed new Pronghorn men's hockey bench boss Murray Nystrom his first Canada West win with a 3-2 victory over the Regina Cougars Friday night in Regina.

McKechnie sunk the Cougars with just a minute and four seconds left in regulation. The fourth-year forward got a few steps on a Cougar defender and beat Dawson MacAuley bar-down. Cameron Trott and Russell Maxwell assisted on the decisive goal.
 
Taylor Fisher and Freshman Jordan Roy scored the other Pronghorn goals, while third-year goaltender Garret Hughson turned aside 31 Regina shots to earn his first victory of the season.
 
The Cougars received goals from Arthur Miller and Tate Coughlin. Dawson MacAuley made 28 saves in the Cougars crease.
 
The win improves the Pronghorns record to 1-2-0 early into the Canada West season, while the loss drops the Cougars record to 0-2-1.
 
The Cougars and Pronghorns were locked in a defensive battle throughout the first and most of the second period until Fisher's first of the season. Connor Sanvido worked the puck out of the left corner of the Pronghorn zone to Maxwell who was streaking up the centre of the ice. As Maxwell crossed the Cougar blue he dished it across to Fisher who fired a quick wrist shot under Dawson MacAuley's blocker and into the back of the net
 
The Pronghorns out shot the Cougars again in the second period but the margin was much closer, with the 'Horns registering 11 shots on goal compared to the Cougars nine.
 
Just past the seven minute mark of he third period, Jeff Rayman stopped a Cougars clearing attempt and threw the puck on net. McAuley made the initial stop but Roy slapped in the rebound to put the visitors up 2-0
 
Outshooting the Pronghorns 19 to 8 in the third period, Regina cut the lead in half With 7:50 left in the third, as a Pronghorns defender coughed up the puck and Arthur Miller netted his first U SPORTS goal. The rookie forward scooped up the puck and with little room to work shot it passed Garret Hughson's glove.
 
Regina drew even with just over a minute and a half left after Tristan Frei fired a shot on net. The rebound bounced out to  Coughlin who potted the Cougars' second goal of the night, tying the game up at 2-2 with his second of the year.
 
However, the tied game would only last 29-seconds before McKechnie slotted home his first of the season to lift the Pronghorns to their first win of the season.
 
The Pronghorns and Cougars are back at tomorrow afternoon at the Co-operators Centre in Regina, puck drops at 3:00 pm. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.