CALGARY – In a fantastic Friday night hockey game at Flames Community Arena, the University of Calgary Dinos defeated the Mount Royal University Cougars 3-2 in a shootout.

Calgary never trailed in this one as they improves to 15-2 on the year with their 10th win in a row. MRU drops to 8-5-2.

The Cougars had two early powerplays in the first period but were unable to convert, as the Dinos' penalty kill held strong.

Midway through the period, Calgary got a powerplay and unlike their opponents, the Dinos were able to find the back of the net. Brendan Lee's initial one-timer in the slot was stopped by the pad of Ethan Buenaventura, but Carter Massier pounced on the rebound, finding twine to make it 1-0 for the visiting Dinos.

The Cougars were able to claw back in the second, levelling the score at one. A mad scramble in front of the Dinos' crease led to Teague Patton tucking the puck across the line to make it 1-1.

The Dinos retook the lead at 11:23 of the third. Kaiden Bugera got his second of the season, beating Buenaventura blocker-side. Just a couple of minutes after giving his team the lead, Bugera was sent to the box for hooking.

On the ensuing powerplay, Josh Tarzwell scored his team-leading seventh of the season to tie the game up for the second time. Spencer Moe's initial shot at the doorstep was stopped by Dinos' netminder Carl Stankowski, but Tarzwell was there for the second attempt and a goal.

Stankowski was the Dinos' best player all night, making numerous ten-bell saves in Friday's tilt. The veteran goalie made 29 saves in the win.

Five minutes of overtime still left the two sides even at two and a shootout was next.

Connor Bouchard continued his dominance in the shootout, scoring first for Mount Royal with a beautiful deke.

However, the next two MRU shooters could not beat Stankowski and the final pair for the Dinos scored, giving Calgary the win.

Star rookie Hayden Pakkala scored the winner for the Dinos.

The crosstown rivals will rematch Saturday night at 7 p.m., this time at the Dinos' home rink, Father David Bauer Arena.

-UC-