The Lethbridge Pronghorns accomplished what no other Canada West Hockey team had done in 12 seasons sweep the Alberta Golden Bears in a conference series at Clare Drake Arena. The surging Pronghorns took both ends of the weekend series on Friday-Saturday, February 2nd-3rd, winning 3-1 on Friday and clinching the sweep with a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday.
In other Canada West Hockey action, the Manitoba Bisons remained alive in the playoff race by earning three of four points in two road games against the third ranked Saskatchewan Huskies. The Bisons earned a single point in the series opener with a 4-3 loss and then earned two more points with a 1-0 shootout victory in the finale. On the west coast, the UBC Thunderbirds clinched their fourth consecutive playoff berth and moved into second place in the Mountain Division with a sweep of the Calgary Dinos, defeating the visitors 3-2 and 3-1 at Minoru Arena in Richmond, B.C.
Lethbridges sweep of Alberta marks the first time since the 1994-95 season that the Golden Bears had been swept at home in a Canada West Hockey series. The last time that happened was on January 20-21, 1995 when the Pronghorns skated into Clare Drake Arena and left with 7-4 and 4-2 victories over the Golden Bears.
Third-year goaltender Blake Ward was key to the Pronghornss success as he allowed only a single goal in earning both victories against Alberta. The only goal allowed by Ward in the series came on the first shot he faced as Alberta defenceman Mark Ashtons slap shot beat him only 28 seconds into the first period in the series opener. Ward would shut the way for the rest of the game, stopping 13 of 14 shots to earn the victory. After Ashtons goal gave the Golden Bears the lead, Shaun Norrie and Ryan Costanzos powerplay goals gave Lethbridge a 2-1 lead and Steve Zmudczynskis empty net goal with eight seconds left sealed the victory.
The win was the Lethbridges first at Clare Drake Arena in 17 games dating back to the 1999-00 season. Prior to the win, the Pronghorns had compiled a 0-15-2 record versus Alberta in Edmonton dating back to a 3-2 win on October 15, 1999.
Ward found himself on the bench for the start of the series finale on Saturday, but after Alberta scored three times in the first 6:56 of the first period, Ward made his second appearance, relieving Brandon Highton at 9:19 with the Prongrhorns trailing 3-0.
Alberta struck early for the second consecutive game as Richard Kelly beat Highton with a backhand shot only 58 seconds after the opening face-off. Dylan Stanley and Dale Mahovsky increased the Golden Bears lead to 3-0 with goals at 2:12 and 6:56, respectively. Kelly earned an assist on Mahovksys goal to finish as the Golden Bears leading scorer with a goal and an assist.
Head coach Greg Gatto, who was an assistant captain with the Pronghorns the last time Lethbridge swept the Golden Bears, replaced Highton with Ward at 9:19 of the opening frame and Ward helped stem the tide as Alberta held a 16-8 advantage in shots in the first period.
Devin Featherstone started the Lethbridge comeback scoring a powerplay goal with only 20 seconds remaining in the opening period with the Pronghorns enjoying a two-man advantage. Jason Roberts and Justin Cruse scored third period powerplay goals to tie the score at 3-3 with 6:05 left in regulation. All three Pronghorns goals came on the powerplay in Saturdays victory and five of Lethbridges six goals in the series came with the man advantage. The sixth goal came into an empty net goal.
Mark Shefchyk solidified his hold on the Canada West Hockey scoring lead with two assists in the series. After being held scoreless on Friday, Shefchyk registered assists on Lethbridges second and third goals on Saturday and now has a conference-leading 12-26-38 in 24 games. The freshman forward holds a four point lead over Albertas Ben Kilgour, who was held without a point in the series. Kilgour is sec