It may only be December, but the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team is in danger of slipping out of the Canada West playoff race if it can't find a way to put together a winning streak.

This weekend, the Horns (4-5-3) will put the wraps on the first half of the season, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds (5-4-3), Friday and Saturday night. The puck drops at 7 p.m. nightly at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Coming off of their fourth consecutive weekend split, the Horns are still at the bottom of the Canada West standings but are only five points out of third place and will make up their games in hand this weekend. The Horns beat the 6th ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies last Friday before losing the next night.

Earlier this season in Vancouver, the Horns and T-Birds split a weekend series with the Horns winning 5-4 in overtime and the T-Birds rebounding the next night with a 5-0 win.

Winston Day Chief and Nick Hotson continue to be offensive catalysts for the Horns, with Day Chief leading the team with 12 points in 12 games. Hotson sits two points back with 10.

Freshman Max Grassi, also with 12 points, leads the Thunderbirds, while Jordan White has seen the bulk of the action in the Thunderbird net, playing all but 40 minutes through 12 games.

After this weekend's games, the Horns will take a month hiatus for exams and the holiday season, but return to action January 6-7 in a home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos.