Hockey: CW weekly roundup

Saskatchewan @ #6 Manitoba

In Winnipeg, the number-six ranked Manitoba Bisons split their weekend series with the Saskatchewan Huskies, but managed to pick up three of a possible four points. Friday night saw Jared Walker lead the Herd offensively with a pair of goals, while Brandon Lockerby chipped in with a pair of assists from the backend to lift the Bisons to a 5-2 victory. The power play continues to struggle in the 'Peg, as the Bisons went 0 for 8 with the man advantage, as Manitoba continues to hover around 7% on the season. Saturday night's contest saw a battle between the pipes, as Saskatchewan netminder David Reekie and Manitoba goalie Steve Christie put up a combined 73 saves, with both surrendering a pair of goals in regulation. The game would need a shootout to decide a winner, as Brennan Bosch was the lone shooter on either side to find the back of the net, with the Huskies skating away with the 3-2 shootout victory over the Bisons - Saskatchewan's first win over the Bisons in four meetings this season.

Saskatchewan heads home next weekend for a pair of games against the cellar dwelling Regina Cougars, while the Bisons have a bye next weekend and will see their next Canada West action come in the new year when they'll travel to Lethbridge.

Calgary @ #2 Alberta

For the second time this season, the Golden Bears met the Calgary Dinos in the CIS version of the Battle of Alberta. The two teams split their first series, as the Dinos handed the Bears a 3-2 SO loss back on October 9th in Calgary. Friday night in Edmonton, the Bears got a pair of goals from both Greg Gardner and Sean Ringrose, as Real Cyr made 27 saves in goal for Alberta en route to the 7-2 win. Saturday night, Calgary came out intent on being physical with the number-two ranked Golden Bears, as Calgary took every opportunity possible to finish their checks. After falling behind 2-0, Calgary scored four straight goals, including two from Matt Isbister - his first goals of the season - to take a 4-2 lead midway through the game. Alberta managed to answer back with four unanswered goals, including a pair from Canada West leading scorer Chad Klassen to secure a hardfought 6-4 win, and the series sweep.

Alberta heads to Lethbridge next weekend to meet the Pronghorns for the second time in three weekends, while Calgary will return to the Stampede City to host the UBC Thunderbirds.

Lethbridge @ UBC

At Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver, the UBC T-Birds welcomed the Lethbridge Pronghorns to town in search of their first win of the season over the 'Horns. That first win wouldn't come Friday night for the T-Birds, as Andrew Courtney led Lethbridge to a 5-4 win over UBC with a pair of goals and an assist. Courtney, who scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season Friday night, sits atop the Canada West in goal scoring, and now sits second in the nation in that category behind only Lakehead forward Brock McPherson. Saturday night the T-Birds would manage a victory over the Pronghorns, as the T-Birds outlasted Lethbridge in a 4-3 SO win. Despite scoring three goals on the power play, Lethbridge surrendered a shorthanded goal in the third, with Matt Schneider scoring for UBC to tie the game at 3-3. Overtime solved nothing, as the game went to a skills competition. Both Tyler Ruel and Brandon Campos scored for UBC in the shootout to secure their squads their first of the season over Lethbridge.

UBC heads to Calgary next weekend for the first of back-to-back weekends against the Dinos, and Lethbridge will return to Nicholas Sheran Arena in Lethbridge for a series against number-two ranked Alberta.