CALGARY – Following their sweep of UBC Okanagan, Calgary takes on Lethbridge for a home-and-home series this weekend. With the regular season winding down, both teams will utilize this weekend as a litmus test heading into Canada West playoffs.
DETAILS
Date: Thursday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 27
Time: 8 p.m. MT Thursday and 7 p.m. MT Saturday
Venue: Thursday – Lethbridge; Saturday – Calgary
HEADLINES
- The game features two of the best scorers in CW in Calgary's Mambi Diawara and Lethbridge's DeJon Burdeaux. Both teams have top three offences and are capable of finding multiple ways to attack opposing defences.
- With CW playoffs just two weeks away, teams have begun posturing for position atop the standings. Alberta, Calgary, UBC have maintained their status atop the powerhouse conference, with Lethbridge lurking closely behind. The top four teams in CW in RPI receive a first-round bye.
NO. 4 CALGARY DINOS (13-3)
- Saturday is senior night for the Dinos. Connor Foreman and Jhony Verrone are the two seniors on the team and have been excellent in varying roles. These two have done whatever is necessary for the team to reach its third consecutive USPORTS Final 8.
- Mambi Diawara (23.1) and David Kapinga (10.6) are the only Dinos that average more than ten points per game. However as evidenced throughout the season, there are half a dozen players capable of taking control of a game depending on matchups. That includes notable performances such as Jhony Verrone's 18 against Alberta, Mason Foreman's 18 against UBCO, Lars Schlutter's 15 against UBC, and Lucas Mannes' 15 against Winnepeg.
- The Dinos are the only team in CW to have a top three offence and defence. Their depth should pay dividends at both ends as the season trudges on, as the reduced burden has kept players fresh.
LETHBRIDGE PRONGHORNS (11-5)
- Dejon Burdeaux is hoping to return this weekend, after injuries have kept him out the past four games. Burdeaux is fifth in points per game (21.9), second in steals per game (3.5), and second in field goal percentage (59.2) in CW.
- Coming off their bye-week, the Pronghorns last action came against No. 6 UBC. Lethbridge split the series, their win coming in triple overtime with Zac Overwater scoring a school-record 49 points.
- Come playoff time Lethbridge should be prepared for everything CW can throw at it. The Pronghorns are currently fourth in CW, and their final six games of the season come against the three teams ranked ahead of them in the standings.
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