CALGARY – Adam Kydd and Hayden Pakkala each scored in the third period but the University of Calgary Dinos couldn't quite come up with the equalizer in suffering their first loss of the season, 3-2, at Mount Royal Saturday night from Flames Community Arenas.

MRU got on the board first and led 2-0 after two and 3-1 late before holding off the Dinos late push.

The first period was just seconds away from ending scoreless but a late two-man advantage allowed the Cougars to get on the board with their first goal of the year at home. Veteran defenceman Remy Aquilon's point shot got through to the net. Dinos' netminder Carl Stankowski managed to get a piece of the shot with his glove but not enough as the puck trickled across the line with 3.5 seconds left in the opening frame.

Partway through the second, Mount Royal doubled down on their lead. Layton Feist's point shot hit a crowd of bodies in front, with almost every player losing track of the puck except one person: Connor Bouchard. Bouchard pounced on the loose puck at the goalmouth, whacking it in before Dinos goalie Carl Stankowski had a chance to identify where it was.

Cougars' veteran goaltender Riley Sims picked up his first win of the season, making 25 saves on Saturday.

Calgary finally got one past Sims in the third, with captain Adam Kydd scoring on an odd-man rush for his second of the year.

The Cougars managed to restore their two-goal lead with a late powerplay. Josh Tarzwell got his first of the season when he deflected Remy Aquilon's hard shot from the blueline. 

Tarzwell's tally gave MRU much-needed insurance as the Dinos piled on the pressure with the extra attacker late in the contest.

After Sims lost his stick behind his net, Calgary took advantage of the situation. Dinos' rookie Hayden Pakkala scored his third goal of the season to cut the lead back to one with just under two minutes left.

Despite the added pressure from the Dinos, Mount Royal was able to hold on for the victory in their first home game of the 2025-26 campaign. 

The win gives MRU a 2-2 record and their second split of the season. Meanwhile, the loss is the Dinos first of the year, dropping to 3-1.

Calgary travels outside the city for the first time during conference play next weekend, traveling to Winnipeg to take on Manitoba Friday and Saturday. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT, while Saturday's rematch is set for 1 p.m. MT

-UC-