Box Score Game Summary

The University of Regina's men's hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the first period and rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears in the first game of the best-of-three Canada West semifinal on Friday night at the Clare Drake Arena.

Adam Ward made 32 saves and five different players scored for the Cougars, giving the team its first road win over Alberta since 1996.

Justin Scott opened up the scoring for the Cougars with a goal just after the four-minute mark of the first period. Regina struck again on the power play at 15:04, when Shayne Emmons scored an unassisted power play goal. The Cougars extended their lead to three with just six seconds left in the opening frame, with Kyle Ross scoring another power play goal with assists from Cody Thoring and Dylan Chapman. Both teams had four power play opportunities in the first, with the Cougars holding a 9-5 advantage in shots.

Neil Kodman's goal seven minutes into the second period gave the Cougars a 4-0 lead. Jesse Gimblett scored for the Golden Bears in the latter stages of the middle frame to get Alberta on the scoreboard, but Chapman's goal just 65 seconds later restored Regina's four-goal lead.

Ian McDonald scored midway through the third period for Alberta to cut the lead to three, but that was as close as the Golden Bears would come. Ward shut the door the rest of the way for the Cougars, making 16 saves in the third period alone.

The Golden Bears ended up outshooting the Cougars by a 34-27 margin and were 1-for-10 on the power play. Regina connected on three of its nine mad advantages.

Alberta and Regina will square off in Game 2 of the series on Saturday night. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: Prior to Friday night's game, the last time the Cougars defeated Alberta on the road was on Feb. 3, 1996 … Regina defeated the Golden Bears in a playoff game for the first time since Mar. 9, 1991.