The Spring Semester does not begin until next week but Pronghorns Athletics is back in action this weekend as both the basketball and hockey programs open the second half of their Canada West schedules.

In basketball action, the men's and women's teams play host to the University of Alberta. Games go Friday and Saturday nights at the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium, with the women to tip off at 6 p.m. and the men to play at 8 p.m. nightly. With the men's team at 3-9 on the year and the women's team at 2-10, wins are essential for both squads if they want to make a run at Canada West playoffs.

On the hockey front, both the men's and women's teams play home-and-home series with University of Calgary Dinos. The women's team is at home Friday night while the Horns men's team plays on home ice Saturday evening. Both games start at 7 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

The Horns men's team (6-5-3) is coming off a big sweep of UBC Thunderbirds before the break and sits just a point out of a playoff spot. The women's team (4-8-2) is just back from a successful European trip over the holiday break and has won four of its last six games. As well, Olympian Hayley Wickenheiser will be in the lineup for the Dinos.

For a look at full previews of all the games, visit the Horns website.