Connor Hood - Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON - The University of Alberta Athletics department honoured one of their most notable alumni on Saturday night, as they hosted a celebration for former Golden Bears coach Clare Drake, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. Clare, his family, and more than 130 alumni were in attendance to watch the ceremony and the ensuing game, which saw the Bears dismantle the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns 6-1.
The win was the second-straight for the Golden Bears in convincing fashion, following a 7-2 win the previous night. The win was Alberta's 10th this season, as they improve to 10-0-0 in conference play. Lethbridge, meanwhile, dropped their eight-straight contest, falling into last place in Canada West with a 1-8-1 record.
Trevor Cox, Lucas Nickles, Luke Philp, Jason Fram, Brandon Magee, and Trevor Cox all scored for Alberta on Saturday night, while rookie Zach Sawchenko stopped 20 of 21 shots, earning his seventh win of the season. Connor Sanvido scored the lone Pronghorn goal.
In a near replication of their effort in the game from last night, Alberta was in complete control on Saturday, scoring twice per period, owning the possession, and outshooting Lethbridge 35-21. 12 of those shots came in the first period, as both Cox and Nickles found the net in the opening frame.
Lethbridge gave Alberta a momentary scare, cutting the lead to one midway through the second period on the tally by Sanvido. However the Bears immediately responded, with Philp scoring his fourth goal of the weekend just ten seconds later. The goal proved to be the back-breaker for Lethbridge, who allowed another goal, this time by Fram, falling behind 4-1 after two.
Magee scored his second of the weekend, and sixth of the season early in the third, before Cox added his second of the season to seal the win in the dying minutes.
The Golden Bears last started a season 10-0-0 in 2013-14, when they opened with 12-straight wins, before capturing both the Canada West and national championship titles.
The undefeated Bears will head back on the road next weekend, as they travel to Saskatoon to take on the No. 3 ranked, and 8-1-1 Saskatchewan Huskies. Lethbridge will look to get back in the win column in a home series against Manitoba.