CALGARY – Fourth-year forward Blake Stevenson recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Mount Royal Cougars to a 6-2 win over the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team in Game 1 of their Canada West semifinal series on Friday night at Flames Community Arenas.

With home-ice advantage and a first-round bye, the Cougars controlled the pace early. Mount Royal outshot Calgary 13-5 in the opening period and built a three-goal lead by the midway point of the game.

"They are a fast transition team, and when you continue to give them those easy transition pucks, it hurts you," said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. "I thought we had moments where we were good and moments where we lost focus. They are a good team that puts you in duress – we need to be better at handling that."

The Dinos narrowed the deficit to two before the third period but could not complete the comeback.

"Ultimately, our backs are against the wall. The 20 guys who are dressed need to have their absolute best effort, but also their smartest effort. We need to follow the game plan, have high compete, and play the game with a lot of pace," stated Howell.

Mount Royal opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period when Stevenson set up Tanner Komzak streaking through middle ice. Komzak wired a shot past Calgary goaltender Carl Tetachuk to make it 1-0.

Jake Poole tied the game at 15:15 of the first, showing a nose for the net as he deposited a rebound off a point shot.

The Cougars responded just over a minute later when a Michael Ladyman shot was redirected in front, giving Tetachuk little chance to make the save.

Mount Royal carried that momentum into the second period and struck early, with Stevenson restoring a two-goal cushion.

Teague Patton extended the lead midway through the frame, batting a cross-ice pass out of the air and into the back of the net.

The Dinos answered late in the period when Sean Strange redirected a Logan Hauer chance past Mount Royal netminder Shane Farkas, cutting the lead to 4-2 heading into the third.

The final period was tightly contested, but Calgary could not generate another breakthrough. Vaughn Watterodt and Josh Tarzwell added empty-net goals to round out the scoring.

Farkas finished with 22 saves for Mount Royal, while Tetachuk turned aside 23 shots for Calgary.

The Dinos will look to even the series Saturday night at Flames Community Arenas. Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. and is sold out, with streaming available on Canada West TV.

-UC-