University of Lethbridge Pronghorns will be playing for an opportunity to move up to third place in the Canada West standings this weekend but the heavy lifting was done last week.
The Horns men's hockey team clinched a post-season berth as well as a home playoff date in the first round when they split with University of Calgary Dinos a week ago. Now, with no chance of dropping from their fourth-place standing, the Horns will look to sweep visiting Alberta Golden Bears to overtake idle Manitoba for third spot in the conference standings. Games are Friday and Saturday nights, 7 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
The Horns (14-12-0) do not yet know whom they will host in the first round of playoffs, Mar. 6-8, but look to go into the post-season on a winning note. The Bears (20-4-2) have clinched top spot in the conference and, along with University of Saskatchewan, will have a bye in the first round of playoffs. Ranked second in the country, U of A has won three of the four previous meetings with the Pronghorns this season with all four games in Edmonton.
Universiade
Both the Pronghorns and Golden Bears will play this weekend's series shorthanded due to the Winter Universiade in Harbin, China. The Horns are without defenceman Ryan Pottruff and forward Dustin Moore, while the Bears have seven players on the team, including the conference's top goaltender, Aaron Sorochan, and leading scorer Chad Klassen.
Friday, Canada ripped host China 13-0 with Pottruff netting the game-winning goal just 4:24 into the first period. Moore also added a second period power play tally. Canada plays Great Britain Saturday as the preliminary round continues.
Swimming
The Horns swim team has five members representing the program at the CIS Championship meet in Vancouver this weekend. Having qualified a third male swimmer last weekend, the Horns were able to add a men's relay team to the championships and will have four men and one female swimmer compete in the championship event.
With only five swimmers at the meet, it is unrealistic for the Horns to compete for the team titles, but with all five swimmers eligible to return next season, they will gain a great deal of experience.
