Hockey: CW Weekly roundup

Calgary @ Saskatchewan

It took extra time both nights in Toon Town this weekend, as the Calgary Dinos and the Saskatchewan Huskies split their weekend series in a pair of overtime games at Rutherford Rink. Friday night Saskatchewan scored the games first two markers, before coughing up that two goal lead to the Dinos, who eventually tied the game at 2-2 in the third period thanks to Cory Pritz's marker at 4:48 of the third period. Calgary would cap off the comeback thanks to Reid Jorgenson at the 3:52 mark of overtime to secure the 3-2 win for the Dinos.

In the second game of the weekend series, it was the Huskies this time that would come out on the right end of an overtime affair. Andrew Bailey evened the score at 1-1 in the third period picking up his eighth goal of the season to get Saskatchewan on the board at 14:19 of the third period. The final 5:41 of regulation solved nothing, as the Dinos and Huskies went into overtime for the second consecutive night. In the extra frame, Evan Schafer provided the heroics as he picked the perfect time to notch his first of the season to lift Saskatchewan to a 2-1 win.

With three points in the weekend series, the Huskies now sit tied with Manitoba in the standings with 30 points (Manitoba owns the current tie-break having one more wins than Saskatchewan), setting up a series next weekend in Saskatoon that will go a long way in determining second place in Canada West as the Bisons come to town for a pivotal two-game set. Calgary with the trio of points now sits only one point up on Lethbridge who swept their weekend series against Regina. The Dinos host last place UBC next weekend, as both those teams will wrap up their regular season schedules.

Regina @ Lethbridge

In Lethbridge this weekend, the Pronghorns kept their playoff hopes alive by picking up a sweep of the Regina Cougars, and in doing so gained ground on fourth place Calgary. Dustin Moore sparked the Pronghorns to a 4-1 win Friday night, as he picked up a pair of goals for the 'Horns. Scott Bowles came up big in net for Lethbridge, making 42 saves on 43 shots to pick up his 11th win of the season. In goal for Regina, Brant Hilton got the start, but allowed three goals on just nine shots in a span of 9:41 before being pulled in the first period of play.

Saturday night Lethbridge, who ran out to a 3-0 lead Friday night, had another three-goal lead as they took a 4-1 advantage into the third period. Moore came up big once again for Lethbridge, scoring another pair of goals, while Adam Chorneyko scored his rookie leading 14th of the season as well to lift the 'Horns to a 4-3 win. Regina scored a pair of third period goals to make things interesting, but it was too little, too late as the Pronghorns got a much needed sweep at home.

Lethbridge is off next weekend before wrapping up the regular season at home against Saskatchewan in a series that is sure to have playoff implications, while Regina returns home to host Alberta next weekend.

UBC @ #2 Alberta

In a series that meant nothing to UBC having been eliminated in the standings, it was the Golden Bears that came out Friday night looking like they had punched it in early as the T-Birds surprised the number-two ranked team in the nation in a 4-1 win for the visiting squad.

Former Edmonton Oil King Brennan Sonne had a goal and an assist Friday night, as UBC came into Clare Drake Arena and played a very simple, opportunistic game to hand the Bears their third loss in four games. Real Cyr surrendered two goals on the first five shots he faced in goal for the Bears, but played the entirety of the game in the 4-1 Alberta loss.

Saturday night in what was a far better performance from the home side, Alberta raced out to a 4-0 first period lead and never looked back en route to a 7-1 win over the T-Birds to salvage the split. Derek Ryan was among five Bears who had multiple-point games, as his two goal performance earned him first star honours. Reade Wolansky who was a healthy scratch Friday night came out Saturday with one of his best performances of the second half, scoring a goal on the power play and adding an assist to help the Bears earn the split.

UBC heads to Calgary next weekend looking to spoil the Dinos return home from Saskatchewan, while Alberta travels east to the Queen City next weekend to wrap up their regular season against the Cougars.