EDMONTON – A goal by Stephane Legault with 2:10 left in the third period was the difference in Game 2 of the Canada West Final as the No. 1 University of Alberta Golden Bears defeated the No. 4 University of Calgary Dinos 2-1, earning their 52nd conference title in program history on Friday night at the Clare Drake Arena.

Coming off a 5-2 setback in the opening game of the series, the Dinos played the rematch with a better urgency, while goaltender Jacob DeSerres made countless spectacular saves to keep the game scoreless into the third period. Brooks Myers gave the Dinos the edge mid-way through the third, but Alberta's pressure was too much to handle as they fought their way to a lead and a series win.

With the win, the Golden Bears all-but guarantee themselves the top seed for the upcoming University Cup in Halifax. Both teams will represent the Canada West, with the Dinos to be seeded in the bottom half of the eight-team draw. The full University Cup schedule will be announced Sunday evening.

After only registering nine shots in Game 1, the Dinos sent 10 pucks towards the goal in Friday night's first period. The Dinos were able to control the pace early before some good chances and a power play by Alberta evened the play out.

Alberta's talent was on full display in the middle frame as they notched 16 shots. Jacob DeSerres made several uncanny saves to keep the Golden Bears off the board as their offence sputtered at the opposite end. Calgary's best chance came in the final minutes of the period as Luke Siemens robbed Ryan Harrison off an odd man rush.

With still no goals half way through the third period, the Dinos scored to make it 1-0. Taking the play towards the Alberta goal, Myers netted his second goal of the series to put the home team on notice.

Unfortunately for Calgary, that was one of their few opportunities of the period as the Golden Bears dominated the attacking zone.

The Golden Bears tied the score off a scrum in front of net as Kruise Reddick tipped a fluttering puck past DeSerres at 13:46. Then, with 2:10 left in the game, Legault was sprung on a breakaway where he tucked a low shot through the pads of the Dinos goaltender to put the defending national champs on top.

Calgary would pull DeSerres for an extra attacker but an aggressive defence by Alberta limited any strong chances to tie the game.

The Golden Bears outshot the Dinos in the game 41-20. Calgary went 0-for-1 on the power play, while Alberta was 0-for-2.

The CIS national championship gets underway from Halifax on Thursday, March 12.

-UC-