CALGARY – Following two losses to the UBC Thunderbirds, the University of Calgary Dinos (10-11-1) find themselves in a hard spot as they prepare to play the Regina Cougars (4-14-2) in a two-game set at Father David Bauer Arena.

The Dinos entered last weekend with a chance to cement themselves in fourth place in the Canada West standings. Things didn't go as planned though as the visiting Thunderbirds swept the two-game series to push Calgary down into fifth-place. While UBC may only hold a three point advantage over Calgary, they also have played two fewer games.

With only six contests left in the regular season, Calgary is set for a critical weekend against Regina. The Cougars sit at the bottom of the seven-team Canada West with four wins this year. Regina is also currently riding an eight-game winless streak which dates back to Nov. 19 against Lethbridge. The Cougars will be entering Calgary coming off a bye week and will be well rested and prepared for the Dinos.

This weekend's games will be the final games between these two clubs of the year. The Dinos went 1-1-0 against the Cougars back on Nov. 11-12 in Regina. In game one of the set, the home side was carried by a 30-save performance from Lucas Gore and a hat-trick from defenceman Matt Strueby to a won 4-1. The next night the tables were turned as Calgary outshot Regina 31-14 in a well-balanced 6-1 victory. This is the Cougars' first trip to Father David Bauer since the end of last season when the Dinos swept the two-game series.

Around the Canada West, things appear to be heating up. Manitoba closed the gap between themselves and the top two teams, Saskatchewan and Alberta, with a two-game sweep of the Huskies last weekend. With those two wins, the Bisons are now two points out of a tie for first place and have two games in hand on both those clubs. After their wins against the Dinos, the T-Birds are only six points behind Manitoba. UBC is looking to host a playoff series for the first time since the early 1970s.

Even with the two losses, last weekend saw the continued emergence of Taylor Stefishen as the top offensive threat on the Dinos. The North Vancouver native started his collegiate career at Ohio State where he played two years before departing for the WHL to play as a 20-year old with Prince George.

Because of those years with the Buckeyes, Stefishen counts as a third-year player in CIS. The speedy forward could easily be mistaken for a fifth-year, however, with his play this season. No more was this evident then during the Dinos game against the Team Canada World Juniors when Stefishen could have easily looked in place among the players wearing the maple leaf. Through 19 games, Stefishen has 20 points and carries a three-game goal streak into this weekend's match-up.

The Dinos close out the road portion of their schedule next weekend as they take on the Saskatchewan Huskies on Feb. 3-4. Calgary returns to Father David Bauer Arena for the final weekend of the regular season Feb. 10-11 when they host the Manitoba Bisons.

-UC-