Box Score WINNIPEG – Overcoming a career-threatening injury from a few years prior and extended rehabilitation process, first-year forward Dawson Pasternak made his U SPORTS debut in a major way on Friday night. The former assistant captain for the Victoria Royals -- who scored a career-high 72 points in 62 games last season -- recorded the primary assist on the game-winning goal by fellow WHL alum Skyler Bruce, as the Manitoba Bisons beat the Regina Cougars 5-0.
 
The Winnipeg native was recruited by Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett in the off-season, and on Friday he made it clear what he's bringing to the table for the Herd. He was a +3 on the night in his first university game, a one-sided victory for Manitoba.

The win halted a nine-game losing skid for the Bisons, who jumped four points ahead of Regina for fourth in Canada West's East Division, with eight points total.
 
"I've dealt with a lot of injuries. You can't really control it most of the time. It's definitely a long process, mentally and physically, but I love playing the sport," said the 5'9", 158-pound Pasternak.
 
"I'm not done playing yet. I just hope I can bring that competitive side. I'd rather win a game and not contribute at all, than get a couple points and lose the game. Just being vocal, I speak a lot. I try to lead the way the best as I can, and hopefully people can respect that and tag along."
 
Pasternak and Bruce went give-and-go, showcasing their long-term chemistry on a beautiful play to open the scoring.
 
The duo rushed into the attacking zone, with Pasternak speeding past a Cougars defender, dishing the puck back to Bruce from behind the net. His line-mate made no mistake on a one-timer from in close for his sixth goal of the season at 5:14 of the second period.
 
"We haven't made plays like that off the rush in small areas since I've been here. They're both offensive guys, and creative," said Burnett of the impact freshmen.
 
"Pasta can create, and we're happy to have him back in the lineup healthy and ready to go. We look for him to continue to create scoring chances. He's very capable of doing that. Even just being one player, he changes our lineup, and he changes the competitiveness at practice and our level of skill. He brings it up just by being in the lineup. We're happy that he's healthy and ready to play, you saw it on full display tonight."
 
Bruce and Pasternak, both local products, grew up competing against each other since they were eight years old. They've combined to play during some spring tournaments, and have "always been buddies."
 
"It means a lot. We were both itching to play with each other. We grew up playing against each other pretty much our whole lives. I think it was both of our last years that we finally got to play against each other in the WHL," added Bruce, a veteran of over 200 games in the 'dub between the Winnipeg ICE, Vancouver Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings.
 
"Finally getting to play against each other was special, and when we got to be on the same team, we were both super pumped. Leading up to that, we were on the ice together for the whole two hours working on extra stuff together. We were both itching to play with each other, and when we saw our names together in the lineup sheet, we were pretty pumped. That first play was what we worked on all year."
 
It was the first of four points on the night for Bruce, a U SPORTS career high. It was also the fourth time this season that the true freshman has scored multiple points in a game.
 
Bruce's tally was more than enough, as the Herd controlled zone time, taking advantage of six Regina penalties, scoring twice.
 
The hosts added to their lead at 9:55 of the second on the power play, with captain Jonny Hooker scoring his team-leading ninth goal on a rebound off his own shot from the right slot.
 
The tally was Hooker's eighth with the extra skater, the most in Canada West. He has 15 power play goals over the last two seasons, while his nine goals are second in the conference.
 
Defenceman Ben Bonni finished off a memorable second period for the Herd, scoring his first career U SPORTS goal with 7:36 to go. He stole the puck just before the Cougars' blue line, racing past three Regina players, going five-hole while being taken down for a sensational finish.
 
Cougars goalie Adam Evanoff was sensational despite the score. He made 19 saves, including a handful during a Bisons five-on-three in the first period.
 
Evanoff's most impressive stop during the Herd's two-man advantage came with his glove, as he sprawled from his right to left to deny Hooker, the first of three straight saves on the Herd's captain from point blank range.
 
The Herd added to their lead just under five minutes into the third period.
 
Bruce blitzed into the attacking zone with speed, dropping the puck to centre Caden Zaplitny on an odd-man rush. The first-year product from the WHL's Everett Silvertips stayed patient with a defenceman in front of him, tucking the puck under the left arm of Evanoff on a wrist shot for the third goal of his rookie season, as he, Bruce and Pasternak all finished at +3.
 
"Zapper had such a good game," said Bruce.
 
"His goal was unreal. A shot through a d-man low glove is a really tough shot to make. He played really well. I think we just gelled, being a younger line. We work really hard and we want the best for each other, so we're willing to take a hit to get that guy the puck so they can do something. We all trust each other, we trust our instincts. Zapper was huge tonight, Dawson was huge. Going back to ODR hockey, it was just super fun playing with both of them."
 
Regina had an excellent chance to get on the board shortly after, getting a five-on-three of their own, but they were unable to generate much traffic around the net.
 
Their best chance of the game came during a four-on-four, as Eric Pearce raced behind the Bisons' defence, but he was denied five-hole from in close by Kolby Thornton, who made 17 saves for his first career U SPORTS shutout.
 
A Cougars penalty just under midway through the third led to Manitoba's second special teams marker, as Bruce tapped in a loose puck in front of the crease for his seventh goal of the season and second of the game to round out the scoring.
 
The two teams play again tomorrow at 5 pm.