Joshua StorieAfter an uncharacteristically tough weekend, the Pandas hockey team will be back at it again this weekend against the Regina Cougars.
The Pandas dropped both their games against the Lethbridge Pronghorns this past weekend, losing 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 9, and 3-1 the following night.
The Pronghorns were on their heels for large portions of the first game, but their rookie goalie Alicia Anderson held them in the game, stopping 38 of 40 shots, as Lethbridge overcame an early 1-0 deficit to take the first game.
The Pandas were much less tenacious in the second game, falling into a 3-0 hole that they were unable to climb out of.
Head coach Howie Draper said his team just didn’t measure up, especially in the second game.
“(Lethbridge) did everything we needed to do to be successful, and they just did it better,” Draper said.
The Pandas will now get ready for the Cougars, who won’t be an easy opponent, having the top ranked offence in Canada West so far this year. The Cougars have compiled a 2-1-1 record during the season, scoring a Canada West leading 15 goals in four games, compared to eight from the Pandas.
The Cougars have the top two scorers in Canada West, in Emma Waldenberger and Jaycee Magwood, with Waldenberger tallying an impressive six goals and nine points through four games, while Magwood leads Canada West in assists so far this year with five.
Draper also acknowledged that the Cougars are a very dangerous team.
“Regina is the type of team that has some speed and tempo, and they move the puck very well,” Draper said.
“They’ve got a mobile (defence) core as well, so we need to make sure we’ve got five girls back on every attack.”
The Pandas have had success against the Cougars in the past, as they won three of their four matchups last year, outscoring them 15-3.
The game times are set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday night, and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, both at Clare Drake Arena.
