CALGARY – Scoring four answered goals after a lethargic first period, the Alberta Golden Bears took care of business on the road, beating the host University of Calgary Dinos by a score of 4-1.
Alberta goaltender Linden Rowat gets credit with the victory, but did split the playing time equally with Real Cyr, who gave up the lone Calgary goal. Rowat and Cyr made nine and 15 saves respectively, while Calgary goaltender Nathan Deobald had 23 saves in the losing effort.
Coming out of the gate fired up after a rough outing on Saturday night against UNB, Calgary would capitalize right away on early penalty woes for Alberta. With no seats left in the penalty box as three Bears inhabited it, Calgary rookie Kodie Curran kept up his recent hot play by roofing a shot over Real Cyr on the five on three situation, giving the Dinos the early lead.
Determined to get a win on home ice after losing twice to UNB, Calgary would show plenty of energy on the defensive end in the first period, with Curtis Senkow emulating the effort early on. With his stick lost amongst the shuffle, the fourth year blue-liner would block three consecutive shots in an Alberta pressure situation, keeping the Bears without a shot despite their strong play in the offensive zone.
After a sluggish first period in which they were outshot by the hosts 12-4, the Bears came into the second period with much more vigour, controlling the play for the majority of the period. Outshooting the Dinos 14-7 in the middle frame, the Bears would beat Deobald twice to go into the second intermission with the 2-1 lead.
Mike MacAngus would get the Bears on the board first, getting an open look at Calgary's net after Mitch Cziebere created the turnover in the Dinos zone. Deobald would block Czibere's first try but couldn't corral the rebound, which MacAngus buried. Eric Hunter would get the second goal 10 minutes later, squeaking it past Deobald to give the visitors the one goal lead.
Alberta would continue to press in the third, getting an unassisted wrap around goal by assistant captain Derek Ryan, which seemed to deflate the hopes of the Dinos. The Bears would attack again shortly thereafter, as Sean Ringrose deflected a bouncing shot from Johnny Lazo clear past Deobald, who had little chance on the play.
Lazo would lead the visitors with five shots on goal, while Eric Hunter added three to go along with a goal and an assist. Calgary would get quality shots from a variety of different players, with Brock Nixon, Torrie Wheat and Tyler Swystun leading the way with three a piece.
Both Calgary and Alberta will continue their exhibition schedule in Edmonton on Friday, September 24th, but not against each other. Alberta's Brick Invitational tournament has both Regina and Saskatchewan coming to Alberta's capital, which the Bears and Dinos will play respectively on the 24th.
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