EDMONTON - The Battle of Alberta is synonymous with excitement and tonight was no exception as the No.1 University of Alberta Golden Bears and the University of Calgary Dinos duelled to a 5-2 Alberta decision in game one of a best-of-three playoff semi-final series, Friday in Edmonton.

BOX SCORE

The defending Canada West champions came strong out of the gate, scoring only 35 seconds into the opening frame when a puck lying in the Calgary crease in front of Golden Bear Jesse Gimblett got passed to linemate Sean Ringrose for the far better angle at an empty net and a 1-0 lead.

Yet a Calgary power-play just under eight minutes later allowed rearguard Cory Pritz to enter the slot from the Alberta blue-line and roof a backhand to the far corner to tie the game at one.

Before another two minutes could pass, Pritz passed the puck out from an Alberta corner to former Kamloops Blazer Reid Jorgensen who quickly one-timed a tap-in past Alberta's freshman 'keeper Travis Yonkman and put the visitors up by a goal.

The lead was short-lived, however, when senior defender Aaron Agnew fired a wide slap-pass at former Prince George Cougar Greg Gardner, who redirected the puck into the yawning cage at 12:21 of the first period.

The Golden Bears put themselves in the lead again at the 16:10 mark when Gimblett found a streaking Ringrose, in alone from the top of the faceoff circle, and the rookie Edmontonian triple-deked Dinos netminder Dustin Butler, ending with a backhand, before following the puck into the net.

Team captain Tyler Metcalfe increased the lead to two early in the second when he found himself all alone on the left side of Butler with time to spare, with Gardner and Agnew garnering assists.

Gardner notched his second goal of the evening with 1:48 left to play in the final frame when Lee Zalasky rang a shot off the bottom of the post, ricocheting to Gardner for the open shot into a vacant Calgary goal, with Butler off for an extra Dino attacker.

Calgary finished the night 1-for-5 on the power-play while Alberta went 0-for-6.

Game 2 starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Clare Drake Arena.  Both teams who advance to the Canada West finals earn a berth into nationals.

Game notes: At the 18:39 mark of the third period, Butler incurred an injury from a collision with Alberta's Zalasky…53 seconds later, Dale Mahovsky collided with replacement Jeff Weber in the Calgary goal, provoking rough play from the netminder, who received a match penalty.  Upon getting up from the ensuing fracas, Mahovsky got involved with Matt Isbister  and received a double-minor for his infraction.

-30-