Box Score Written by: John Gaudes

WINNIPEG  - Coming off an unsuccessful season and home opener against the Alberta Golden Bears the previous night, the Bisons men's hockey team were looking for revenge on Saturday, October 5th, as they finished a back-to-back weekend against last year's Canada West points leaders.

In the end, though, it was more of the same disappointment, as again the Golden Bears (2-0-0) were able to rout the Bisons (0-2-0), winning 4-0 at the Wayne Fleming Arena.

Manitoba had a better defensive effort in this second game of the series, but were again unable to get on the board.  The team recorded 16 shots to Alberta's 28.  Manitoba goalie Joe Caliguiri, who had to make 36 saves the night before, made 24 more on Saturday.

For Alberta, the scoring again came from different players on all four goals.  Centre Sean Ringrose, forward Rhett Rachinski, and defensemen Jordan Rowley and Ben Lindemulder all earned goals.  Key in the win also was right winger Johnny Lazo, who recorded two assists and was flying around the offensive zone for most of the night.  Golden Bears goalie Luke Siemens recorded a shutout on 16 saves.

In the first period, Alberta came out with the quick feet, sharp passing and physical play that made them so successful the previous night.  The Bisons, meanwhile, played much more aggressive initially on defense to break up some sure opportunities.  That aggression, however, led to a pair of undisciplined Manitoba penalties.  

Capitalizing was Rowley, who opened the scoring with his second goal of the season - shelfing a rebound on the power play after a point blank shot from forward Johnny Lazo bounced off Caliguiri's pad.  Though Alberta took three penalties in the first, Manitoba was unable to capitalize, and headed into the first break down 1-0.

After that, the rout was on for a second straight night.  Five minutes into the second, Lazo snuck behind the Bisons defense for a breakaway, where his shot pushed Caliguiri back into his own net and Ringrose jumped on the rebound to put it in.  Nine minutes later, brilliant tic-tac-toe passing led to an open dump-in for Rachinski.  Just 40 seconds after that, Lindemulder found open space at the top of the Bisons left face-off circle, and wristed in an easy one to make it 4-0 after two.

The third period, which got chippy the night before, was played with more even tempers on Saturday night.  Both teams had chances to score, but in the end it was another uneventful and inconsequential final period, with the blowout already decided.

Alberta continues their season-opening road swing next weekend, playing in Mount Royal. Their next game starts at 8 p.m. CST on Friday, October 11. The Bisons men's hockey team now finish a rare three-day weekend on the road against the University of North Dakota in a non-conference game set to start at 7:07 p.m. CST on Sunday, October 6.