Winnipeg, MB - The Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars were back at it on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 7 in men's hockey, at the Wayne Fleming Arena after the home side took the Friday night matchup 3-0 .

The Bisons took the Saturday matinee by a score of 5-4 but it was not easy. If not for Regina Cougars goalie, Dawson MacAuley, this game would have been over early. The Herd pushed the play for the majority of the game; forcing MacAuley to make 41 saves through out the contest.

"We are doing all the right things, lets just keep doing what we are doing, but lets not press it." Said Bison Head Coach Mike Sirant when asked what he said to keep his players calm and focused despite the play of MacAuley.

Shaq Merasty's late third period goal at 16:20 would turn out to be the winner for the hometown Bisons. Regina's Cody Fowlie and Colton Sparrow would make it close but the Bisons would hold on and win.

With the win, Manitoba improved their record to 8-9-1. Regina falls to 3-14-1 on the season.

The Bisons came out flying, firing 21 shots on net in the first period with many being quality scoring chances.

Despite chasing the play for most of the first period it would be the Cougars who would strike first. Regina's Ian McNulty was fed a beautiful pass on a 2 on 1 from Cody Fowlie and managed to squeak it past the Bison goalie, Justin Paulic. Bisons defenseman, Rene Hunter, answered back quickly with a wrist shot that beat MacAuley blocker side after a wonderful display of passing by line mates Nick Zajac and Remi Laurencelle. Lee Christianson would put one past MacAuley with just 17 seconds left to put the Bisons up 2-1 going into the first intermission.

The Cougars tied the game up at 2-2 early in the third with a beautiful shot on the power play off the stick of stick of McNulty, his second of the game.

Shortly after Regina tied the game up 2-2 in the third, Hunter would catch Regina forward Tristan Frei with a monstrous hit. The hit resulted in a five minute major Checking to the Head penalty for Hunter which was off set by a double roughing minor taken by visiting defender Tyler Bell, standing up for his fellow teammate.

The schedule takes the Herd out west next week for two games in Vancouver against the UBC Thunderbirds (Jan. 13-14). Regina will also travel west out to Edmonton to take on the University of Alberta (Jan.13-14).