Lethbridge – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns offensive dominance led them to a 5-2 victory, Friday, January 22 night, against the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons, in the first of a two-game men's hockey weekend matchup

Mitch Maxwell and Justin Valentino each added two goals on the night for the Pronghorns, and Artsiom Kalishnikov rounded out the scoring netting an individual marker of his own.

Adam Henry and Brett Stovin each scored for the Bisons.

Byron Spriggs got the start for the Bisons and faced 12 shots in the opening frame prior to being relieved in the second period by Justin Paulic, who went on to stop all but one of the 16 shots he faced on the night.

At the other end of the ice, Damien Ketlo started in net for the Pronghorns and managed to stop all but two of the 39 shots he faced.

The Pronghorns jumped out to an early two-goal lead in the opening five minutes of the first period. Into the zone with speed Maxwell drew wide and dangled the Manitoba defender and put a hard shot, top-shelf, past Spriggs to put his team on the board. Valentino widened the gap less than two minutes later. Jay Merkley's hard shot was denied by the keeper but Valentino quickly corralled the loose rebound on the left side and buried the puck for his fourth of the season.

Horns penalty at 8:05. Valentino called for high-sticking and given a 4 minute double minor. Adam Henry's shot through traffic went wide and Jordan DePape's effort was redirected after hitting the skate of a Lethbridge defender.

Kalishnikov scored shorthanded marker midway through the frame to increase the 'Horns lead to three. All alone with speed on a breakaway, the second-year center net a great backhanded effort up and over the blocker of the Manitoba keeper.

Maxwell added his second of night, with the help of Mitch Makin, with just less than two minutes remaining in the opening period.

Shots through one favored the 'Horns 12-6.

The Bisons upped their offensive efforts early in the second period, but the 'Horns upped the lead just short of the midway point of the period. Valentino picked up a rebound in the slot and beat Paulic glove side.

The Bisons finally found a response and hit the scoreboard almost immediately after the 'Horns fifth goal, as Henry picked up his second of the season.

Henry tried to add another for the Bisons before the period came to a close but his strong effort from in front was denied, first by the crossbar, and second by an outstretched Ketlo who managed to get a piece of the puck and redirect the loose puck out of the crease.

Manitoba managed to close the gap by one toward the end of the frame. Stovin's hard shot snuck past the Lethbridge keeper to make it 5-2, at 17:07. But that would be as close as they would come.

In the third, the Bisons peppered Ketlo with 15 shots but he had an answer for each of the Bisons attempts to register his four win of the season.

With this win, the Pronghorns earn two much needed points and improve to 8-12-1, while the Bisons sit at 9-10-2. Game two of the weekend series is set for tomorrow afternoon, at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Puck drop is set for 1pm and the game will also be live streamed at canadawest.tv.