The University of Saskatchewan Huskies moved into first place in the Canada West Hockey combined standings with a sweep of their two road games against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday-Sunday, November 6th-7th. It was one of three sweeps manufactured by Great Plains Division teams over teams from the Mountain Division as the University of Manitoba Bisons and University of Regina Cougars also won both of their games on Friday-Saturday, November 5th-6th.
Saskatchewan's four point weekend moved the Huskies a single point ahead of the idle University of Alberta Golden Bears into first place in the conference's combined standings with a 7-0-1 record. Alberta, who tops the Mountain Division standings, is 7-1-0. With the 6-2 and 7-5 wins at Lethbridge, the Huskies remain the only undefeated team in conference play and extended their undefeated streak to 10 games (8-0-2; Oct. 8-Nov. 7) in overall play. Saskatchewan's last loss was a 5-2 loss to Alberta in a neutral ice, non-conference game at Wainwright, Alberta on October 3rd.
Manitoba remains two points behind Saskatchewan in the Great Plains Division following their sweep of the University of Calgary Dinos. The Bisons extended their undefeated streak to eight games (7-0-1; Oct. 9-Nov. 6) with 3-2 and 3-1 wins over the Dinos. Mike Sirant's team has not lost since dropping their Canada West Hockey season opener 3-2 versus Alberta back on October 8th.
The Regina Cougars ended a streak of their own with 6-2 and 4-3 (OT) wins over visiting UBC on Friday and Saturday. The series opening victory on Friday put the Cougars back on the winning side of the ledger, ending a six-game winless streak (0-4-2; Oct. 15-30).
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Regina defenceman Kurtis Dulle earned Canada West Hockey Player of the Week honors with a six-point weekend versus UBC. Dulle scored three points in each game, netting three goals and three assists. He scored 2-1-3 in the series opener and then added 1-2-3 on Saturday. Among his points were the GWG in Friday's 6-2 win and an assist on Ryan Pollock's overtime game winner on Saturday.
Forward Jason Weitzel tallied four points for the Cougars with two assists on Friday and 1-1-2 on Saturday.
Ryan Pollock scored goals in each game versus UBC, netting the game winner 2:30 into overtime on Saturday.
Goaltender Rob Muntain stopped 51 of 56 (.911) in the two games versus UBC, improving his record to 4-5-1.
UBC defenceman Jarret Winn scored his first points of the conference schedule with 2-2-4 at Regina, netting a goal and an assist in both losses to the Cougars. The four points moves Winn into a tie with Jon Kress for the Thunderbirds overall scoring lead with 4-8-12 in 16 games. He is tied for 5th in scoring among conference defencemen.
Forward Lance Morrison also netted four points for UBC with 1-3-4. After assisting on both Thunderbirds goals on Friday, Morrison earned two powerplay points with a goal.and an assist on Saturday.
Manitoba forward paul Deniset scored three times in the Bisons sweep of Calgary and in the process moved into a tie with Alberta's Ben Thomson for second place in the Canada West Hockey conference scoring race. Deniset has netted 6-7-13 in 8 games and leads the Bisons in overall scoring with 9-7-16 in 13 games. Among his three goals were a PPG and SHG. Deniset's SHG was his Canada West Hockey leading fifth in overall play and third in conference play. He has been involved in all seven of Manitoba's conference leading SHG, scoring 5-2-7. Kevin Saurette is second with 1-3-4.
Krister Toews improved his conference record to 6-1-1 and moved into second place among Canada West Hockey goatlenders with a 1.94 GAA, as the Manitoba goaltender allowed only three goals against Calgary. Stopping 52 of 55 shots (.945), Toews backstopped the Bisons to 3-2 and 3-1 wins.
Wade Davis and Ryley Layden keyed Calgary's offence as the pair wer