CALGARY – After jumping out to strong first half starts, the University of Manitoba Bisons and the University of Calgary Dinos have had their struggles thus far in 2010. With a key series at Father David Bauer in Calgary this weekend, the second- and third-place teams in Canada West will be looking to create separation moving forward.

The Dinos have had the most struggles of the two teams, having gone winless in their four games since returning from the holidays. A loss and an overtime loss each against the Alberta Golden Bears and the Lethbridge Pronghorns have the Dinos at 9-7-4, and depending on the outcome of their games this weekend, Calgary could jump as high as second place or fall to fourth.

Manitoba, despite compiling a solid 11-5-2 record to this point, are 2-2 since the break with tough losses against the lesser-ranked Lethbridge Pronghorns and UBC Thunderbirds proving tough pills to swallow. The second-place Bisons do hold two games in hand against their Calgary rivals, giving them slightly more breathing room should they drop a contest or two this weekend.

Both teams know the importance of these head-to-head matchups as the season winds down, as the coveted home-ice advantage and first round bye that comes with second place is completely up for grabs. Not alone in the chase for the second spot, the Saskatchewan Huskies remain right in the thick of the fray only one point out of third place with two games in hand, while the Pronghorns are making a push of their own with a strong start to 2010.

One of the most consistent bright spots for the Dinos, forward Reid Jorgensen, sits in ninth in Canada West in points with 21, and is currently riding a nine game conference point streak. Of those 21 points, 18 are assists.

Brock Nixon added to his point total against the Pronghorns on Saturday with a goal in traffic, pulling him into the conference top 20, while fourth year captain Aaron Richards scored two goals in Lethbridge on Friday to bring his yearly total up to five. Former Medicine Hat Tiger Jerrid Sauer added two assists on the weekend as well.

Goalkeeper Dustin Butler struggled somewhat this past weekend, especially in the late going, where he gave up four third period goals and an overtime winner in two games. Butler, who has played the majority of the time this season for the Dinos in net, saw his statistical averages drop to 2.88 GAA and a .896 save percentage, but is undoubtedly most concerned with raising the category that counts: victories.

The Bisons are led by their goaltender Steve Christie, who ranks first in wins, GAA and save percentage with 10, 2.17, and 0.928, respectively. Christie has helped the Bisons to six one goal victories in 2009-10 and will be looking to keep it going in Calgary.

The Bisons rely on Mike Hellyer for scoring, where the second year forward is tied for fourth in the conference with ten goals. Hellyer has been accountable for three game winning goals for Manitoba this season as well, proving a propensity for the clutch moment.

Rookie defenceman Brandon Lockerby has ten assists in his inaugural Canada West campaign for Manitoba, while fellow first-years Blair Macauley and Ian Duval have combined for 23 total points.

The Dinos and Bisons open their two game series on Friday night at Father David Bauer at 7 p.m., and will follow with the second game of the set on Saturday evening. After the dust settles, Manitoba will return home to face the No. 2 Alberta Golden Bears, while Calgary will hit the road to face the Regina Cougars.

-UC-