Hockey programs take it on the road

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:01:33 +0000

For the first time this season, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s hockey team heads out on the road for a two game set, traveling to Edmonton to face the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas.

Through the first four weeks of the season, the ‘Horns have only played one road game, the front half of a home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos.

If the early season results are any indication, every point is going to be valuable. So far, five points separate first to seventh in the Canada West standings, with the Horns sitting in sixth at 3-3-2. The Pandas (4-2-2) enter the weekend in fourth place, only two points ahead of the Horns.

After splitting their series last weekend with the Saskatchewan Huskies, the Horns need to string some wins together if they hope to move up the standings.

Head coach Chandy Kaip continues to platoon the goaltending duties between Shauntelle Williams and Crystal Patterson with both seeing action in four games. Williams has the better numbers with a 1.83 goals-against-average. Sadie Lenstra and Sarah Spence lead the Horns offensively with six points and are tied for eighth in conference scoring.

The Pandas enter the weekend after losing both games to the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver last weekend, but earned a point in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss.

Puck drop in Edmonton is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday, and both games with be webcast on http://canadawest.tv.

Pronghorn men

Still in search of their elusive first win of the season, the Pronghorns men’s hockey team heads out on the road again this weekend, traveling to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds for a pair of games.

This weekend will also put an end to a difficult stretch to open the season, as seven of the Horns' first eight conference games have been played on the road. After this weekend, the Horns will play five of their next eight games at home.

Offensively, the Horns have struggled, scoring just six goals in six games and if they are going to right the ship this season, they will need to increase their productivity. Specialty teams continue to be an area of concern as well, with the Horns ranking last in power play efficiency and second last in penalty killing.

Third-year forward Cass Mappin leads the team in scoring and has been involved in more than half of the Horns goals with four points.

For the Thunderbirds (1-5-0), the 2013-14 season has also gotten off to a rocky start and they enter the weekend having lost three games in a row, including being swept by the Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in Edmonton.

While not as drastic as the Horns' offensive woes, the Thunderbirds are the third lowest scoring team in the conference with 16 goals in six games. They have also allowed 28 goals against, the second most in the conference.

Puck drop for both Friday and Saturday night’s games is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Live stats for both games can be found at http://www.leaguestat.com/canadawest/mens/en/stats/index.php?season_id=22.

UNews - http://www.leaguestat.com/canadawest/mens/en/stats/index.php?season_id=22

Hockey programs take it on the road

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