LETHBRIDGE – Heading out on the road in need of standings points, the Lethbridge Pronghorn men's hockey team face a tough task this weekend, traveling to Edmonton to face the U SPORTS second-ranked and defending Canada West Champion Alberta Golden Bears.
 
The Pronghorns and Bears will clash at Clare Drake Arena at 7:00pm both Friday and Saturday night, catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv, presented by Co-op.
 
Earlier this season, the Bears swept the two game set in Lethbridge and are riding a 10 game winning streak over the Pronghorns.
 
A look at the teams:
 
The start of 2020 has been a rough one for the Pronghorns (5-14-1) having lost four straight games including being swept last weekend by the Saskatchewan Huskies at home. Despite the rocky start to the second half, the Pronghorns are only three points behind the Regina Cougars for the final playoff spot with eight games to play.
 
Speciality teams remain a bright spot for the Pronghorns this season. Entering the weekend, the Pronghorns hold the second best power play in Canada West, clicking at 23.4%, but have had the fewest opportunities in the conference. Penalty killing the Pronghorns sit fifth (79.5%).
 
Freshman Luke Coleman leads the Pronghorns in scoring so far this season with eight goals and five assists, while Landon Gross (5G 7A) and Brooks Maxwell (5G 7A) sit one point back.
 
The Golden Bears (17-3-0) enter weekend following two convincing wins over the Mount Royal Cougars and are 8-2 in their last 10 games, currently sitting four points ahead of the Saskatchewan Huskies and Calgary Dinos for top spot in Canada West.
 
Alberta also leads the conference in goals with 90 and has allowed the fewest goals against with 40, while holding the top ranked penalty killing (83.8%). The Bears power play sits 5^th at 20.6%.
 
Second-year Bear Grayson Pawlenchuk leads the Golden Bears and sits second in Canada West scoring with 14 goals and 11 assists. His 14 goals leads the conference.
 
The goaltending due of Matt Berlin and Brendan Burke have split duties thus far. Berlin, a freshman leads the conference with a 1.69 goals-against average, while Burke is 10-0 this season and holds a 2.20 goals-against average.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns will take on the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend in a home-and-home series that begins Friday night in Lethbridge.