LETHBRIDGE — In what was a stellar performance from Lethbridge Pronghorns goaltender Jack Burgart, the University of Alberta Golden Bears defeated the host Pronghorns 2–1 on Saturday, sweeping the weekend series at the Nicholas Sheran Arena.
 
Burgart, who was making his U SPORTS debut with the Pronghorns, made 55 saves to keep his team in the game, but was ultimately credited with the loss in the outstanding effort. Alberta's starter Matt Berlin saved all but one of the 24 shots he faced on his way to the win.
 
Thanks in part to the three powerplay opportunities in favour of Alberta, shots on the Lethbridge goal were amassed in droves to the pleasure of the Alberta bench, who tasked Burgart with turning away 26 opportunities in the first period alone.
 
Berlin turned aside six of seven shots he faced in the frame; the lone puck Berlin allowed past him was on a second chance rebound for Owen Guenter.
 
A speedy Luke Coleman directed a shot on the Alberta netminder that forced the rebound to trickle to a trailing Brooks Maxwell. Maxwell's in-close attempt was also turned aside but the rebound sat nicely for Guenter to put underneath Berlin, giving Lethbridge their first lead of the weekend.
 
Teams would start the second period with players in the penalty box, but time provided Alberta a brief 5-on-3 powerplay. With Lethbridge stuck in their own zone, Ryan Jevne spotted an open Steven Owre at the top of the far circle to one-time it past Burgart to level the score at one.
 
Much of the frame's remainder was set in the Pronghorns zone, as the Golden Bears dominated possession once again. Lethbridge's defence improved comparatively to their first period, allowing only 15 shots to reach Burgart while themselves able to get 9 shots on the Berlin-held net.
 
The Golden Bears earned their first lead of the game early in the third on a solo effort from Tyler Soy, who took the puck from teammate Jevne in their own zone, skated through the neutral zone directly to the Pronghorns net, and shovelled the puck past a poke-checking Burgart.
 
Lethbridge could not create an opportunity to answer the Soy tally, allowing it to stand as the game-winning goal to close out the weekend series.
 
With the win, Alberta takes sole possession of top spot in the Canada West conference with a record of 7-1-0, while the Pronghorns sit at the bottom of the playoff picture in sixth place, with a record of 3-5-0.
 
Both teams have the weekend off next week as part of a league-wide break, but will be back in action the week after for a home-and-home series against the Mount Royal University Cougars. They will defend home ice on Saturday, November 8, at the Nicholas Sheran Arena. Puck drop is at 7 PM. The Golden Bears will also take part in a home-and-home series upon their return to action, facing the Calgary Dinos.