Calgary, AB – The Mount Royal Cougars came from behind to defeat the Manitoba Bisons 3-2 in men's hockey at Flames Community Arenas on Thursday, January 29. Brett Zarazun scored twice and Cody Cartier added the game winner to secure third place in the Canada West standings for the Cougars. Shaquille Merasty added two goals for the Bisons in a losing effort.

Manitoba got off to a quick start just 1:38 into the game. The Bisons were creating traffic in front of Dalyn Flette before Shaquille Merasty banged in a loose puck to put Manitoba up 1-0. The Cougars were un-phased by the early tally and kept the pedal to the floor. Mount Royal controlled the pace throughout and even outshot the Bisons 9-5 in the first period, but were unable to beat Byron Spriggs.

Zarazun took control of the puck early in the second period and made a power move out of the corner. He kept jamming away and eventually the puck found its way past Spriggs to tie the game at one.

After Zarazun's goal, the ice looked like it was titled downhill toward the Cougar's net. Flette was forced to make several acrobatic saves to keep the Cougars in the game after two periods of play.

Merasty scored another early period goal just 17 second into the third to restore the Bisons' lead. The Cougars came storming back just over three minutes later. After working the puck around, Matt Brown got it out Zarazun who hammered a laser home from the point to tie the game at two.

The Cougars could smell blood and they continued to pepper Spriggs with shots from all angles. Cartier, the team's leading scorer, got the puck in the high slot off a pass from Tyler Fiddler and ripped it low blocker side for the game-winning goal.

The win improves Mount Royal to a record of 17-9-1 and clinches third place in the conference.

Manitoba remains just one point back of the UBC Thunderbirds, who also lost this evening, with a record of 14-13-0 and the Herd still in fifth spot in Canada West.

The conference regular season will conclude tomorrow evening at Flames Community Arenas. Puck drop between the Bisons and Cougars is set for 8 p.m. CT.