LETHBRIDGE – Following a weekend sweep, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team faces a stiff challenge this coming weekend, hosting the defending University Cup Champion Alberta Golden Bears.
 
The Pronghorns and Bears will hit the ice at Nicholas Sheran Arena Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, as part of the preparations of the 2019 University Cup hosted in Lethbridge, the two teams will square off in the afternoon at Enmax Centre. Puck drop is slated for 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
A Look at the teams:
 
The Pronghorns (4-6-0) put an end to a four game slide last weekend beating the Manitoba Bisons 4-1 and 6-3. The wins also pulled the Pronghorns to within two points of fourth place in Canada West.
 
Statistically, the Pronghorns are still one of the lower scoring teams in Canada West with 24 goals in 10 games, which ranks them sixth. The team is ranked fifth in goals-against, allowing 33 against.
 
After a slow start by their standards, the Bears (7-3-0) enter the weekend riding a three game winning streak and moved up to #3 in the U SPORTS Top 10. The Bears opened the season splitting their first two series but handled the Regina Cougars easily last weekend, beating them 6-0 and 6-1.
 
The Bears also enter the weekend with the top speciality team units at both ends of the ice. On the power play, the Bears are scoring at a 26.9% clip. The penalty killing unit is successful killing off 89.7% of Bears penalties.
 
Players to watch:
 
Coming off an injury that saw him miss more than a month, Torrin White had a successful return last weekend, picking up three goals and an assist in the Pronghorns two wins. He was named the Canada West third star of the week for his efforts.
 
Also having a four point weekend against Manitoba Bisons, Justin Valentino took over the teams' scoring lead with seven points in 10 games. Valentino has a team high seven assists.
 
Missing some of their top players for most of the season this year, Riley Kieser leads the Golden Bears in scoring with three goals and 11 assists.
 
Cole Sanford leads the Bears in goals with five, while four other Bears have scored four times this season.
 
Last year's Canada West MVP Luke Philip has missed four games but has eight points in six games, while U CUP MVP Stephane Legault has not played a conference game yet this season.
 
Up Next:
 
Winding down the first semester of Canada West play, the Pronghorns face the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend in a home-and-home series, starting Friday night in Lethbridge. The Pronghorns will wrap up the first semester of action the following weekend with a trip to UBC.