The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's and women's hockey teams open their 2013-14 Canada West hockey schedules in early October, and with both teams coming off non-playoff seasons, will need a quick start to get off on the right foot.

The Horns women's team hosts the first home game of the season when they welcome the defending Canada West champion University of British Columbia T-Birds to Nicholas Sheran Arena on Oct. 4-5. That weekend will mark the start of a stretch that sees the Horns host seven of their first eight games at Nicholas Sheran.

The following weekend (Oct. 11-12), the Regina Cougars come to town, before a home-and-home set with the University of Calgary Dinos follows. The streak of home games concludes Oct. 25-26 when the Horns entertain the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Of course, with so many home games ot start the season, the U of L will be forced to play the majority of its road schedule in the season's second half, and will host just four home games after Christmas.

On the men's side, the Horns will play the opposite schedule of their women counterparts, opening the season with seven of eight games on the road, including an Oct. 11-12 series at the University of Regina that marks the beginning of their conference schedule.

The U of L will open on home ice Oct. 18 with the front end of a home-and-home series against the University of Calgary Dinos.

During the first half of the season, the Horns will only skate on home ice six times, hosting the defending Canada West champion University of Alberta Golden Bears (Nov. 8-9), Mount Royal University (Nov. 22) and UBC Thunderbirds (Nov. 29-30) in addition to the Dinos.

After the holiday break, the Horns will play eight of their remaining 12 games at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Puck drop for all homes games at Nicholas Sheran Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.

For season tickets, call Pronghorn Athletics at 403-329-2681. Check out the full schedules at gohorns.ca.