Golden Bears make statement against Cougars on Senior Night

February 12, 2016

Justin McCaffrey, Mount Royal Cougars Sports Information

CALGARY, AB - The Alberta Golden Bears came into Flames Community Arenas and made a statement on Friday night, pounding the Mount Royal Cougars 8-4 on Senior Night.

Brennan Yadlowski, Jamie Crooks, Dylan Bredo, Levko Koper, Jayden Hart, James Dobrowloski, Brett Ferguson and Kruise Reddick scored for the Golden Bears. David Stephens (2), Cam Maclise and Bill Marshall tallied for Cougars.

The Golden Bears opened the scoring at the 3:10 mark of the first as Brennan Yadlowski let go a seeing eye shot from the sidewall that beat Cam Lanigan over the left shoulder.

Alberta continued to apply pressure but Cam Lanigan stood strong, making some big saves to keep the score 1-0. After Lanigan made an outstanding glove save, the Cougars turned it up ice and Grant Baker hit David Stephens at centre ice. Stephens turned on the jets and with the defender closing on him, roofed a quick wrister over the glove of Luke Siemens, to tie the game at one.

With less than three minutes left in the period, Lanigan was unable to corral a long wrister from the outside and a scramble ensued in front of the net. Jamie Crooks snuck in and buried it into the empty cage to restore the Alberta lead heading into the first intermission.

Early in the second, with Mount Royal already on the power play, Jordan McNaughton caught a high-stick in the teeth, giving the Cougars a minute-long 5-on-3 advantage. McNaughton got his revenge just after the first penalty expired. He broke in two-on-two and zipped a saucer pass over to Cam Maclise who made no mistake, banging home his 14th goal of the season.

Alberta regained the lead for the third time on a flukey goal that Lanigan would like to have back. Dylan Bredo took a shot that was deflected high into the air. All players on the ice lost track of it until it dropped down behind the back of the Cougars' netminder and into the net.

Levko Koper added to the Golden Bears lead shortly thereafter, when he was left alone in front of the net. Jayden Hart, James Dobrowloski and Brett Ferguson padded the Alberta lead and the rout was on. Alberta took a 7-2 into the third and final period.

Bill Marshall scored just 1:01 into the third to give Mount Royal some life. David Stephens added another goal to close the gap to 7-4 with just over 13 minutes left. However Kruise Reddick put a stop to the comeback adding a late goal to seal the Golden Bear's victory.

The Cougars fall to 17-7-3 and will have to wait until tomorrow to try and clinch second place in the Canada West conference. If the Cougars are able to win tomorrow night they will earn a first round bye and host the Canada West semifinals.

The win puts the Golden Bears into second place with a record of 18-7-2 and temporarily into second place in the conference.

Mount Royal and Alberta will close out the regular season tomorrow night in Edmonton. The winner will seal up second place in the conference and a bye into the Canada West semifinals. Puck drop is slated for 6pm at the Clare Drake Arena.