CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos will look to build off the momentum of a sweep of the Alberta Golden Bears as they head into their most anticipated game of the season – the Crowchild Classic against the Mount Royal Cougars.

The action gets going Thursday at the Scotiabank Saddledome with puck drop set for 4 p.m. The second game of the series goes Friday at the Father David Bauer Arena at 7 p.m.

More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold, and sales will continue through the second period of the women's game Thursday night. All sales are online only, and tickets will not be available at the door. Visit www.godinos.com/cc to pick yours up!

BIG WEEKEND
The Dinos took down the U SPORTS second-ranked team last weekend in the form of a sweep, the first of the Alberta Golden Bears by Calgary since 2016. Replacing Matt Greenfield, who left Friday's game after taking part in warmup, first-year goaltender Brodan Salmond made 57 saves over the two games. The two wins by Calgary saw them jump back into the U SPORTS Top 10, coming in at No. 7.

THE CROWCHILD CLASSIC
The Dinos and Cougars will clash in the eighth annual Crowchild Classic on Thursday evening, where for the first time the men will play in the early slot at 4 p.m. The current record between the two teams is 4-3 in favour of Calgary, who are also riding a four game win streak in the big game – with a trifecta of double overtime finishes followed up by a last-second regulation win a year ago. Former team captain Dylan Busenius is the Dinos' all-time leading scorer in the Saddledome game, registering five assists in five games. Matt Alfaro (1g, 1a), Ryan Gagnon (1g, 1a), and Tim Vanstone (2a) are the active scoring leaders for the Dinos in the Crowchild Classic.

CRUNCH TIME
Just four games remain in the race for the postseason, and for the Dinos every point is crucial as they look to secure a first-round playoff bye. With 34 points, they sit four back of both Alberta and Saskatchewan, but only two up on the Cougars. There's quite the drop-off after those top four teams, though: fifth-place Manitoba is nine points back of Mount Royal. 

THE HITMAN RETURNS
Both the Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars have a history of recruiting members of the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen to their programs. This past summer saw the Dinos add Hitmen graduate Kaden Elder, who has been a key part of the team's offence. In 21 games, Elder has scored 11 goals and picked up seven assists for 18 points. He is the first former Hitmen player to dress in the Crowchild Classic for the Dinos since Danny Gayle scored the double-overtime winner in 2017. On the other bench, Connor Rankin is expected to play in his fifth and final Crowchild Classic in his former junior rink.

SCOUTING REPORT
vs MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS
Game Info Thursday, Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. – Scotiabank Saddledome and Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. – Father David Bauer Arena
2019-20 Record 15-7-2, 4th in Canada West
Leading Scorer Ryley Lindgren (15g, 12a)

NOTES

• The Cougars edged out the Lethbridge Pronghorns last week taking both games in the home-and-home series, one in overtime and one in a shootout
• Riley Morris has been the top goaltender for Mount Royal so far this season, posting a 2.71 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage
• The two teams split their first series back in November, with Mount Royal taking a 5-4 win in double overtime before the Dinos returned the favour 4-3 at home
• Ryler Lindgren is tied with Calgary's Matt Alfaro and Alberta's Grayson Pawlenchuk for goals scored this season with 15
• Mount Royal won the first three games at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but their last win came in 2015

UP NEXT
The Dinos will close out the regular season schedule with a home and home series against the Lethbridge Pronghorns starting on Friday, Feb. 7 at Father David Bauer Arena followed by the closing game of the Canada West regular season in Lethbridge on Feb. 8.