REGINA – Eight different players found the back of the net as the No. 1 ranked University of Calgary Dinos showed no signs of rust in returning to action after a bye week with a convincing 9-2 win over the Regina Cougars Thursday night from the Co-operators Centre.

Calgary blasted home five third-period goals to take a close game and blow it wide open with a season-high nine goals for the emphatic road victory.

With the win, the Dinos extend their win streak to an incredible 16 in a row and move to 18-3 overall on the season. Meanwhile, the Cougars fall to 6-13, snapping their four-game win streak to start the new year.

Calgary wasted no time in getting the scoring started Thursday as Connor Gutenberg collected a rebound near post, skated around the backside of the net and slotted it home on the wrap around just 19 seconds into the game to quickly make it 1-0, Dinos.

The Cougars showed they weren't going to lay down quietly, leveling the game up at the 9:06 mark when Riley Krane perfectly placed a shot from distance.

Marty Westhaver reclaimed the lead for the Scarlet & Gold just a few minutes before the first intermission on a similar play to Gutenberg's goal, controlling the puck behind the net and wristing one home near post for the 2-1 advantage after one.

Arjun Atwal and Colson Gengenbach both got in on the action in the second as the Dinos offence started to find its rhythm in making it 4-1 at the 11:28 mark of the second.

Again, the home squad showed their fight as Carson Sass took advantage of a Cougars power play to cut the gap to 4-2 heading into the second intermission.

From there, it was all Dinos.

Jake Gricius perfectly slotted a pass to Josh Maser back door for a power play goal just 30 seconds into the third period. Max Patterson blasted one home and Riley Stotts beat the keeper near post and suddenly it was 7-2 with 13 minutes still to play.

Bradley Schoonbaert and Maser each added one more – both on power plays at the 10:50 and 11:28 marks, respectively – to leave no doubt.

Ten different players were a part of a total of 15 assists on the night as the Dinos continued their well-balanced and unselfish attack, highlighted by Jake Gricius (3), Sean Strange (2), Gutenburg (2) and Schoonbaert (2) each helping set up multiple goals on the evening.

Carl Stankowski picked up the win in net for the Dinos, moving to 4-1 on the year after registering 29 saves on the evening.

The two teams are right back at it Friday to wrap up the season series. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. from the Co-operators Centre.

-UC-