After nailing down a playoff spot with a two-game road sweep over the UBC Thunderbirds last weekend, the University of Regina's men's hockey team will close out the regular season with a home-and-home series against the No. 8-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday and Saturday.

Dustin Bru was the story for the Cougars last weekend, scoring two goals in both wins including the game-winner in overtime on Saturday. Bru, who was named the Canada West Men's Hockey Player of the Week, now has a team-leading nine goals on the season after his four tallies against the Thunderbirds. Brant Hilton was also solid between the pipes for the Cougars, recording the shutout in a 4-0 win on Friday and making 33 saves in Saturday's 3-2 victory.

The Cougars have been on a tear lately, winning five of their last six games including one over No. 1-ranked Alberta. They can clinch fifth place in the conference by registering at least one point this weekend, which would mean a date with Lethbridge in the first round of the playoffs unless the Pronghorns can record two wins over the league-leading Golden Bears on Friday and Saturday.

Saskatchewan enters the weekend with second place in the conference nailed down, guaranteeing the Huskies a bye through the first round of the playoffs. The visitors will be without leading scorers Steven DaSilva and Steven Gillen, as both are off representing Canada at the 2009 World University Games in Harbin, China. Saskatchewan will also be without defenceman Derek Endicott, who is nursing an injury.

The Cougars also have a strong contingent in China, as Hilton, leading scorer Kyle Ross, head coach Blaine Sautner, and athletic therapist Trevor Len are all in Harbin.

Regina and Saskatchewan have already met four times during the Canada West schedule, with the uskies winning three of those games.

Following these two games, the Cougars will have a weekend off before beginning the first round of the playoffs, which will begin on March 6. Regina will travel to either Lethbridge or Manitoba for the best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal series.