'Horns end season on a positive note with win over Dinos

A.J. Mike Smith, Sports Information Intern

Lethbridge – The Pronghorns men's hockey team wrapped up their season on a positive on Saturday night, beating the U of C Dinos by a score of 5-2.

Mitch Makin scored twice for the 'Horns. Mitch Maxwell, Dalton Sward, and Blake Orban rounded out the rest of the scoring for the hometown team.

Max Ross and Mitch Cook got the goals for the Dinos.

With the win the 'Horns finish the season with a 11-15-2 record, which more than doubled win total from last season. The loss for the Dinos drops their record to 12-12-4 but they will now have to wait until a final from Vancouver to see if they host the opening round of playoffs or head out on the road.

With the pressure of trying to make the playoffs off their shoulders, the 'Horns came out loose and looking to just have a fun last game of the season and walk away with a win. They moved the puck and skated well all period, and scored a goal before the Dinos could register a shot. The goal came off the stick of Makin, who launched one just under the blocker of Dinos keeper Steven Stanford.

The Dinos would respond and get their first shot, and many more, creating in front of the 'Horns' Dylan Tait's net. Tait would stand tall, though, in his last game as a Pronghorn, and even mix in a highlight reel two-pad stack, taking the fans back to the glory days of the 80's.

No more goals would be scored in the period, but the Dinos would get on the score sheet by way of the penalty box. First, it was Alex Dzielski, who took a hooking penalty at 14:56. The Dinos would kill it off. Next, at 19:00, Dylan Busenius would get the gate for tripping.

The 'Horns couldn't score on the minute they had the advantage in the first period, but would get fresh ice and a full minute on the power play to start the second. They took a 1-0 lead and a 12-9 edge in shots to the room for the first intermission.

The minute long start to the second with the man advantage would prove useful for the 'Horns, as 52 seconds in, Mitch Maxwell would roof a rebound to put the 'Horns up 2-0.

Four minutes and four seconds later, Dalton Sward would hustle in on the rush and do the same thing, as he roofed a rebound over Stanford's left shoulder.

The penalties would continue in the middle frame. Kevin King of the Dinos would take the first one, a crosschecking minor. 22 seconds later, the 'Horns would even it up as Sward went to the box for a high stick, and the teams would play four-on-four for 1:38. This would again go the 'Horns advantage, as Sam McKechnie would hook Blake Orban up with a beauty pass out front, and a diving Orban would swat it passed Stanford.

The 'Horns would then get themselves into some penalty trouble of their own. Brandon Clowes took the first one for tripping at 13:47. The 'Horns were able to kill it off. Late in the second, they would go down by two men, after a hooking call on Spenser Jensen at 18:53 and a high stick to Tyler Hansen at 19:15. They would kill off the second period portion, but would be on the hook for 52 seconds of five-on-three to start the third.

The teams went to the intermission with the 'Horns up 4-0. The Dinos lead in shots, 29-22.

The 'Horns would kill of the five-on-three to start the third, but the Dinos would get on the board shortly after, as a Max Ross point shot found it's way passed everyone and into the back of the 'Horns net, spoiling graduating goalie Dylan Tait's shutout bid. The 'Horns would get it right back, though, as Makin flew down the wing and beat Stanford five-hole foe his second of the night. To finish off the scoring on the night, the Dinos added another one, after Mitch Cook put home a rebound passed a screened Tait.

The teams would take a few more penalties each, but they would not factor into the result of the game.

Tait finished off his Pronghorn career with an impressive 43 save night. His counterpart Stanford stopped 27.

The Canada West playoffs begin next weekend.