Hockey: Bisons beatable, Huskies humbled in CW

In the second full week of Canada West hockey action, the Saskatchewan Huskies looked like the offensive juggernaut everyone had expected Friday night, and then came out Saturday night and were shutdown by a Regina Cougars that continues to be a totally different group when they get the lead.

The Huskies, who were swept two weeks ago in Winnipeg by the Manitoba Bisons, opened their home schedule with a convincing 6-0 win over Regina Friday that saw six different Dawgs find the back of the net, and Jeff Harvey picking up the shutout in goal - exactly the recipe head coach Dave Adolph was hoping for. Saturday night was a different story, however, as the Cougars got the ever important first goal and were able to hang onto a 2-1 win in Saskatoon. With a 1-3 start for the Huskies, who looked poised to take a big step forward this season, it has many asking what's wrong with the Dawgs? Things don't get any easier for Adolph's crew as they head into Edmonton next weekend in what was supposed to be an early season preview of the conference's two best teams, but now has the Huskies scrambling to figure out what's wrong in Toon Town.

In Vancouver, the UBC Thunderbirds handed the Bisons their first two losses of the season. The T-Birds edged the Bisons in a shootout Friday night, with Theran Yeo netting the lone goal in the shootout for the 4-3 victory. Saturday night saw two impressive performances offensively as Rick Wood had two for the Bisons, but that wasn't enough as Justin McCrae had two of his own to pace UBC to a 5-3 win. It was a disciplined weekend for both sides, as the two teams combined for only seven penalties over the series. The Bisons came back to earth on the road after four straight wins at home to open the season. Milan Dragicevic has his team playing well early in the season.

The Dinos and Pronghorns played a rare Thursday-Saturday home and home series this weekend, with the first contest coming Thursday night in Lethbridge where the Horns skated away with a 4-3 shootout win. The Horns were excellent with the man advantage, going 3 for 6. Andrew Courtney picked up first star honours Thursday night with his two goal performance and was excellent again Saturday night with another two goal effort. Saturday night's contest also saw the game head to a shootout, as the Dinos picked up the win in the skills competition this time with a 6-5 win. Brock Nixon lead the Calgary charge at home with two goals.

Alberta had the bye this week in the CW.