Lethbridge - Coming off their first win of the regular season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team notched a hard-earned 5-2 win, Saturday, November 1 night, to complete the weekend sweep of the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons. 

First-year forward Samuel Wilber netted two goals for the Pronghorns, while Brock Hirsche, Mitch Maxwell, and Ryan Moser each added individual markers. Brett Dudar and Taylor Dicken each scored for the Bisons.

Damien Ketlo delivered an exceptional performance for Lethbridge, turning aside all but two of the 42 shots he faced on the night. Byron Spriggs got the start for Manitoba and faced a total of 23 shots on the night.

Trading chances early in the first, both teams made smart plays and earned great scoring chances. Mark Hall's hard blast from the circle was gloved down by the Manitoba keeper and Maxwell's follow-up effort was also denied by Spriggs, who squared off to make the stop. 

The Horns' power play unit made their first appearance of the night and came out strong, made some great passes, and were rewarded with an early goal from Wilbur who managed to sneak the puck past a down-and-out Spriggs. The goal was Wilbur's first in the CIS.

With Ketlo out of position, Taylor Dicken tried to answer back immediately for Manitoba but his hard shot rang off the post. 

Wilbur added a second marker on his next shift, unloading a rocket wrister that soared past Spriggs, high glove-side, to lift the 'Horns to an early 2-0 lead just past the twelve-minute mark. 

Brett Dudar's quick shot, from Jordan DePape and Jordan Sutherland, snuck past the Lethbridge and cut the Horns' lead in half with a little over five minutes remaining in the opening frame.

Looking to regain the 'Horns two goal lead, , Artsiom Kalishnikov's shot, after taking a quick feed from the corner, was steered aside by the Manitoba net-minder. 

Brock Sutherland got a hard shot on net in the final minute but Ketlo quickly flashed his pad and kicked the puck wide and out of harm's way.

The fast pace of the opening period continued into the second. Manitoba's Shaquille Merasty was called for interference at 5:59. Early into the power play, Horns' captain Dan Iwanksi let off a hard shot but it was blocked. The Horns' didn't let up, cycling the puck and looking for an opportunity to crack Spriggs. McMullen's shot was stopped by the keeper but Hirsche was in position to coral the loose puck and bury it.

Plagued by penalties in the second period, the Pronghorns were able to diffuse the first of two quick Bisons' power plays, but Dicken managed to put one past Ketlo at 13:21. The fourth-year forward was a force in front of the net and quickly got his stick on the puck and put one past the keeper, bringing his team back to a one goal deficit. 

With time running out in the second, Maxwell broke out into the Bison's end. Slowing up, he first looked for help, but then changed his mind, and with a quick change of pace he beat the Bison defender to the net. Spriggs out waited him but as he made the stop he threw the puck backward, toward the net, and the puck took fortuitous bounce off a streaking defender, and into the net.

The Bisons were given another opportunity with the man advantage, early in the third. Jordan DePape and Darren Bestland each had great scoring chances but Ketlo shut the door. 

Moser widened the Horns' lead to three with just more than five minutes left to play. Brenden Clowes went hard to the net and Spriggs made what looked to be a great glove save but the puck somehow slipped out behind him and Moser was there to tap it over the line. 

With this win, the 'Horns improve to 2-8-0 while the Bisons fall to 5-5-0. Next week the 'Horns remain at home hosting the Regina Cougars Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The Bisons will return home next weekend to host the Nation's top ranked team in the Alberta Golden Bearson NOvember 7-8 weekend at the Wayne Fleming Arena.