WINNIPEG, MB  — On Saturday, January 16, the University of Manitoba Bisons men's hockey team hosted their second of a two game weekend series against the #8 Mount Royal Cougars at Wayne Fleming Arena. The Cougars won both of the series' games, winning  3-1 on Saturday, outshooting the Bisons in 33-20.  

 The game started out fast paced and high in energy and intensity after a tough game on Friday by both sides.

A scramble in front of the net with two minutes to go in the first period put the home team at a disadvantage when the Bisons' Brett Stovin was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for roughing. Despite the uneven ratio of players on the ice, neither the Bisons nor the Cougars scored in the first period, with the visitors outshooting the home side by 14-6 margin.

The Cougars' Cam Maclise scored with just 16 seconds into the second period, putting Mount Royal ahead on the scoreboard. The goal was assisted by Connor Rankin and Matthew Brown.  

Manitoba continued to play hard to keep it a close game, with Bisons' co-captain Jordan DePape scoring in the top shelf right in front of the net. He continues his 15-point conference-winning streak, ultimately proving his current rank as the league's top scorer. He scored with only 56 seconds to go in the second period. Brett Stovin assisted the goal, whose point streak ended in last night's game, but he still leads the league in rookie scoring. 

The Bisons didn't get too much time celebrate their goal, as the Cougars' Tanner Olstad scored just 32 seconds after the Bisons, bumping Mount Royal back into the lead. 

In the third, both sides had chances as Bisons' goalie Byron Spriggs blocked a penalty shot late in the frame, but the Cougars' Tyler Fiddler still managed to squeak in one last goal with an empty netter to cap off the game. Only three seconds was left on the clock and Mount Royal walked away with a 3-1 win. 

"We've got to be solid defensively, they're very quick. We need to try to get them on fast counters," says Bisons' head coach Mike Sirant." Some adjustments that we made going into tonight's game was to have more of a direct attack, more pressure, more pucks to the net."

The Bisons go on the road next weekend (Jan. 22-23) for a two-game series against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, while Mount Royal stays in Alberta, playing a home-and-home against the University of Calgary Dinos over the same weekend.  

SCORING BY PERIOD:

MAN: 0-1-0

MRU: 0-2-1

SCORING LEADERS: 

MAN: Jordan DePape (1G), Brett Stovin (1A), Jesse Paradis (1A)

MRU: Cam Maclise (1G), Connor Rankin (1A), Matthew Brown (1A)