LETHBRIDGE – Coming out of the semester break, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team kicks off the drive for the post-season hosting the Regina Cougars for a pair of crucial games Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
 
The Pronghorns and Cougars will hit the ice at Nicholas Sheran Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Both games will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
A look at the teams
 
Kicking off the second semester of Canada West action, the Pronghorns (5-9-2) lead the Cougars and Manitoba Bisons by five points for the final playoff position in Canada West.
 
During the semester break, the Pronghorns played a pair of games on the road, losing the U SPORTS top ranked UNB Varsity Reds 8-3, before beating Moncton 3-2.
 
Statistically, the Pronghorns sit sixth in Canada West in both goals for and against, scoring 38 times in 16 games, while allowing 56 against.
 
The Cougars (3-12-1) snapped a nine-game losing streak in their final conference game before the break with a 2-1 win over the Mount Royal Cougars. Mount Royal beat Regina 12-2 the game before.
 
During the first semester of conference action, Regina scored the fewest goals in Canada West with 34 and have also allowed the most against, surrendering 74 goals against.
 
The Pronghorns swept the Cougars in Regina earlier this season with win of 3-2 and 4-2.
 
Players to watch
 
Senior forward Justin Valentino leads the Pronghorns in scoring with four goals and 10 assists, which also places him in a tie for 10^th in Canada West scoring.
 
The Pronghorns welcomed a new face to the program during the break with addition of forward Derek Brown. Brown collected 148 points in 163 games junior games split between Drayton Valley and Bonnyville of the AJHL and Vernon Vipers of BCHL.
 
For the Cougars, Tyler King leads his team in scoring with four gaols and seven assists, while freshman Arthur Miller sits second on the Cougars with nine points, along with defenseman Landon Peel.
 
Up Next
 
The Pronghorns will take on the Calgary Dinos in a home-and-home next week, begin in Lethbridge next Thursday. NOTE: Next Thursday's game will be at the ENMAX Centre and will be free for University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College students and the Zoo will host the Pronghorns' Second Semester Puck Drop Party after the game.