Lethbridge – The University of Manitoba Bisons were able to avoid the sweep in Lethbridge, as they skated away with a 4-1 men's hockey victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. 

With the road win, Manitoba is in a tie for fourth place win conference standings with 10-10-2 record for 22 points while Lethbridge is in seventh spot with a 8-13-1 record for 17 points.

Rene Hunter, Jordan DePape, Lee Christensen, and Joel Schreyer scored for the Bisons, and Tim Campbell notched the lone goal for the 'Horns. 

Both teams got right down to business out of the gate, flying around the ice. Fun to watch, high paced hockey led to a goal being scored only 27 seconds into the game. The Bisons struck first, as a seeing-eye shot launched by Rene Hunter snuck passed a screened Dylan Tait. 

Things settled down after the initial tally, until the Bisons' leading scorer Jordan DePape picked up the puck in his own zone with an unbelievable individual effort, made a quick move on the Pronghorns' defenseman and tucked a beauty shot under the bar of Tait's short side. 

After the Bisons took the two-goal lead, Mitch Makin took a 5 minute major for checking from behind, and a scrum ensued in the aftermath of the play. Lethbridge came up clutch on the PK, though, stifling any chance the Bisons got with the extra man. 

Playing four on four, the 'Horns' Tim Campbell found the back of the net with 2:15 left in the period to cut the Bisons lead in half. The teams would skate out the rest of the period and head to the break with the score sitting at 2-1. 

The second period began with the Bisons going to the box twice, but shutting the door on the hosts. The 'Horns carried the play, earning more possession time and getting the better scoring chances, but Justin Paulic stood tall for the Bisons, keeping the home side at one goal on the night. Tait was solid for the 'Horns, too, making solid stops consistently through the period. The Bisons' Lee Christensen found a way to beat him though, elevating a nasty backhand over his shoulder to put the Bisons up 3-1. 

Aside from the lone Hunter tally, period was an uneventful one, as the fireworks the teams displayed in the first seemed to have calmed during the intermission. 

The third period opened with the Bisons looking content to play a defensive game, and coast to the win. Not many chances were taken by the visitors, and the 'Horns were unable to generate much. To add some insurance, and put the nail in the coffin, Joel Schreyer put away a rebound at the side of the net, while a helpless Tait could only watch the puck pass his outstretched pad and cross the goal line. 

Tait finished with 30 saves, and his counterpart Paulic had an easier night, only having to stop 22 to preserve the win. 

Neither team could capitalize on their powerplay opportunities. Lethbridge went 0 for 5, and the Bisons 0 for 3. 

Next weekend, the Bisons will be back on th road at Saskatchewan on Jan. 29-30. The 'Horns hit the road and are in Vancouver for two dates with the UBC Thunderbirds.