Golden Bears update, week 12

The University of Alberta Golden Bears split their 2 game home-&-home series with the University of Calgary Dinos last weekend. Their .500 record versus Calgary saw the Golden Bears fall from #6 to #8 in the U Sports top 10. The University of New Brunswick and the University of Saskatchewan maintain their 1st and 2nd positions respectively. Mount Royal University (#7), who the Bears face this weekend, is the other Canada West team represented in the national top 10. The Bears won the Friday contest 2-1 in Calgary. They lost the rematch at the Drake on Saturday 3-0 and suffered their first home-ice shutout in 53 years.

The Golden Bears started the two game series on the road in Calgary. The Friday game was a tight checking game which saw the home-side clamp down on the Bears and limit their chances offensively. Calgary outshot Alberta by a 30-21 count but the Bears made the most of their chances and walked away with a 2-1 victory. Brendan Burke made 29 saves for Alberta. Alberta’s goals came from Cole Sanford and Graeme Craig. Stephane Legault setup both goals.

The Saturday game in Calgary was entirely different for the University of Alberta. The Bears out-shot the Dinos 45-23 but ran into a brick wall in the Calgary net named Steven Stanford. The former Saskatoon Blade was spectacular during the final period and a half of play and managed what no other goalie has done for over half a century- shut out the Golden Bears at home. He now owns a 2.50 GAA and a 0.919 SP% on the season. Luke Siemens started in goal for Alberta and was pulled after allowing 2 goals on 4 shots. Brendan Burke came in to relieve and was perfect on the 18 shots he faced. The rookie now sports a 5-3 record for Alberta with a 1.56 GAA and a 0.935 SP%.

Notes

• After dominating the scoring parade during the first half of the season both Jamie Crooks and Jayden Hart have cooled off the start the second half. Tyson Baillie is the only other Bear in the top-10 of Canada West scoring.
• Mount Royal, Alberta’s opponent this weekend, features the Canada West’s two leading scorers. Connor Rankin is on fire scoring at a 1.45 PPG clip. His teammate Cam Maclise sits fours points behind him in second place with 24 points in 22 games.
• Luke Siemens has a 8-3 record this season for Alberta. Brendan Burke is 5-3. However, Burke’s other numbers are far superior. His 1.56 GAA is better than Siemens’ 2.89 mark. The same can be said for the rookie’s 0.935 SP% versus Siemens’ 0.905. You have to wonder who will get the nod going into a two game battle with the nationally ranked Mount Royal University Cougars this weekend.

Up Next

Alberta plays a 2 game series at the Clare Drake against the nationally ranked Mount Royal University Cougars this weekend. The puck drops tonight at 7pm at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary. Tonight’s game can be watched online at canadawest.tv. The teams drive three hours north for the Saturday rematch where the puck drops at 6pm at the Clare Drake Arena at the University of Alberta. Ticket information can be found here.