Box Score WINNIPEG - The University of Manitoba Bisons triumphed over the University of Regina Cougars by a 3-0 score in men's hockey on Friday, January 6 at Wayne Fleming Arena to begin the second half of the conference season.

It was a game of inches.  The hard hitting affair saw the Bison defeat the Cougars. Bison netminder Byron Spriggs earned his first shut-out of the season turning aside all 23 shots.

Regina falls to 3-13-1 on the season and Manitoba rises to 7-9-1 in the Canada West standings.

On the win, Bison head coach Mike Sirant said he was happy "the team got better as the game went on." Happy with the start to the second half, Sirant had extra praise for Spriggs who "didn't face a lot of shot, but he made big saves when he had to."

The home side started with a flourish laying solid checks at any opportunity and firing a number of quality chances on net.

Just after the ten minute mark Bisons' goaltender Spriggs made a huge save coming cross-crease with a kick save. The Bisons moved up the ice, Liam Bilton tripped a Regina attacker near centre ice; the penalty was assessed at 9:32. The visitors were unable to convert on the power-play.

At 6:13 Cougar's star defense Kirk Bear took a high cross ice pass to the face. Bear dropped to the ice drawing a stoppage of play, but was not injured on the play. At the end of the first, shots were 10-4 from in favour of the Bisons.

Sean Christensen earned a hooking penalty at 2:27 of the second as a Cougar snuck passed him in tight in front of the Bison crease. Midway through the second, Ian McNulty tripped a Bison forward driving through the slot, but the Herd could not make the advantage count.

The Cougars' captain, Cody Fowlie, received a minor for tripping after his stick-check cause Nick Zajac to stumble in the neutral zone at 2:08.

With eight seconds left, Regina Mcnulty deked one a two-on-none, but failed to slide the biscuit through Spriggs' five-hole.

In the final period, despite being out numbered in the corner, Zajac managed to win a battle, slide the puck to Kamerin Nault who wired a pass to Remi Laurencelle allowing him to rip the one-timer past Desautels's trapper at 1:15 and the first goal of the game and eventual game-winner.

Almost three minutes after the opening tally, all four officials caught the home side for too many men penalty at the four minute mark. The penalty was served by Brett Brooks. After killing off the penalty, Bison Bilton won the face-off to the right of the Cougar net. Justin Augert took the puck and passed to Adam Henry who wired a seeing-eye shot through traffic top corner for his second goal of the season at ten minutes.

After an empty net goal by Laurencette from Zajac and Hunter with 2:22 left, Zajac was in the corner and was hit hard and late by Regina Tristen Frei. Pushing ensued, but was quickly quieted by the officials. Zajac and Frei both received 10 minute misconducts for their antics.

With 20 seconds remaining Blake Heinrich came to his teammates' defense in a shoving match; the actions earned him a roughing minor. Final shots for the game were 34 by the home team and 23 by the opposition.

The three star were all from the home side: Zajac was third star with two assists in a gritty performance, Spriggs second was great when he needed to be stopping all shots he faced, and Laurencelle was first star with two goals to ensure two points for the hosts.  

The rematch occurs on Saturday, January 7 at 1 p.m. CT at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg.