Manitoba Bisons Take Two In Lethbridge

Manitoba Bisons Men’s Hockey Team Sweep Weekend Series Versus Lethbridge —

Game 1

Manitoba 8 at Lethbridge 2

Friday, Feb. 7 — Three goals in the opening ten minutes of play put the wheels in motion for the University of Manitoba Bisons, who went on to post an impressive 8-2 win over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, Friday, February 7 night at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Brenden Rowinski and Jesse Paradis each netted individual markers for Manitoba while Jordan DePape and Jory Coates took care of the other six goals, each earning three a piece on the night. Daniel Iwanski and Daniel Fainmann each scored for Lethbridge.

Alex Sirard got the start for the Horns and faced 33 shots prior to being replaced by Dylan Tait, who entered the game at the start of the third period. Tait turned aside 11 of the 14 shots he faced.

Joe Caligiuri started in net for Manitoba and looked strong between the pipes, turning aside all but two of the 33 shots he faced on the night.

Game Summary

The Bisons opened scoring with a power play goal by Rowinski, early in the opening frame. With bodies in front of the net, the third-year forward found himself in perfect position to get the puck past an unsuspecting Sirard. Sirard was tested early and often as play continued at a blistering pace. Streaking into the slot with speed, Ian Duval had a great chance, in close, but the Lethbridge net-minder stayed with him and shut the door.

Austin Lauder found Coates wide open and hit him with a great stretch pass through traffic. Waiting, momentarily, before unloading a hard wrist shot, the first year forward fired the puck high blocker side over Sirard’s right shoulder. Thirty seconds later, DePape hit the post but was quick to grab his own rebound and place the puck into a wide open net to give his team a 3-0 lead in the opening half of the frame.

Lethbridge’s Cass Mappin went hard to the net in the final minutes of the period but his effort was denied by Caligiuri, who stayed with him to make the stop. Horns captain, Dan Iwanski, was there to grab the rebound, however, and he managed to get the loose puck over the line, closing the gap to two with just under four minutes left to play in the first.

It took little more than a minute into the second period for Manitoba to re-establish their three goal lead. Parked beside the net, Jordan DePape took a cross-ice pass from Rowinski and sent a hard blast top shelf for his second of the night. Coates added his second marker of the night, from Travis Bobbee, at 6:20 in the second.

Manitoba added a sixth goal near the midway mark of the third. Duval put a hard shot on net and Jesse Paradis’ got his stick in perfect position to tip the puck in, low blocker side. Fainmann added a late goal for the Pronghorns but that would be as close as they’d come. DePape and Coates each completed their hat-trick, adding two more markers in the final two minutes of play.

Game 2

Manitoba 6 at Lethbridge 3

Saturday, Feb. 8 — Coming off a decisive victory Friday night, the Manitoba Bisons completed the weekend sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns with a 6-3 win on Saturday, February 8.

The Bisons got goals from six different goal scorers as Aaron Lewadniuk, Taylor Dickin, Dylan Kelly, Lee Christensen, Craig Scott and Brendan Rowinski all notched singles on the night, while Brock Hirsche, Ryon Moser and Tim Campbell responded for the Pronghorns.

With the win the Bisons move to .500 on the season at 11-11-4, good for sole possession of fourth place in the Canada West standings and the ‘Horns fall to 2-21-3, with only week remaining in their season.

After a four goal first period Friday night, both teams looked to pay more attention to defensive detail early in the game, resulting in a sluggish opening eight minutes.

With the pace quickening and both teams pushing the tempo, Hirsche had the first quality chance, breaking in from the left side while the ‘Horns were on the power play but his snap shot went off Calguri’s shoulder and drilled the crossbar.

Shortly after the Bisons would receive a glorious chance of their own as Ian Duval was sprung for a partial breakaway but was denied as Tait kicked his right leg to knock the puck off the former Kelowna Rocket’s stick. However, it didn’t take long after for the Bisons to open the scoring, as Aaron Lewadniuk cut hard off the sidewall and snuck it under Tait.

Unlike the previous night where the Bisons’ opened a three goal lead in the first, the ‘Horns responded to the Bisons first goal. Attacking again on the left side, Hirsche chose the slapper on this rush and blasted a shot off the short-side post and in to tie the score.

Game Summary

Looking to take the lead before the period was out, Bison Dylan Kelly took advantage after the puck was bobbled by a Pronghorn at the Bison blueline, but Tait was again equal to the task on the breakaway.

With the Pronghorns finding themselves in penalty trouble throughout the second frame, the ice tilted heavily in the Bisons favor as they outshot the ‘Horns 18-7 and outscored them 4-1.

On the Bison’s first power play of the period, Taylor Ditkin collected a rebound after the initial shot went off the post and beat a down-and-out Tait.

Despite spending the majority of the period killing penalties, the ‘Horns would knot the game back up as Ryon Moser was at the end of great pass courtesy of David McMullen on a two-on-one.

For the remainder of the period it was all Bisons, scoring three goals in a span of three minutes. Christensen started the onslaught by jumping on a juicy Tait rebound to regain the Bison lead, followed by Rowinski’s snap shot from the slot while Scott beat Tait with a wrap around to close the second period scoring.

Just past the five minute mark of the third, the Bisons were back on the scoreboard as Kelly’s snap shot from the slot deflected off a ‘Horns defender and over Tait’s shoulder.

On only their second power play of the game, the ‘Horns cut the lead to three with Campbell’s one-timer from the point beating Caligiuri off of the post and in.

Dylan Tait went the distance in goal for the ‘Horns turning aside 46 shots. Joe Caligiuri earned the win the Bisons crease with a 26 save performance.

Standings (as of Feb. 9 am)