Men's Hockey | 1/5/2016 10:07:00 AM

FRIDAY: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m., The Co-operators Centre.
SATURDAY: vs. Calgary, 7 p.m., The Co-operators Centre.

The University of Regina men's hockey team is back in action this weekend following the December break, as the Cougars will play host to the Calgary Dinos on Friday and Saturday evenings at The Co-operators Centre.

The Cougars (4-12-0) closed out the opening half of the Canada West regular season with a pair of losses against the Manitoba Bisons, falling 6-2 and 5-3 to the visitors. Troy Hunter and Ian McNulty scored on the first night, while Austin Bourhis, Miguel Pereira and McNulty found the net in Saturday's rematch. Andy Desautels and Dawson MacAuley split time in net on Friday before Mitch Kilgore played the entire game on Saturday.

"We took some strides during the last month and played better at both ends of the ice," head coach Todd Johnson said. "I've been impressed with the guys at practice this week and if we play the right way we'll be able to compete with anyone in our league."

Desautels, Kilgore and MacAuley have all been called upon in net for Regina, and have posted similar numbers. MacAuley (pictured) has a save percentage of .889, while Desautels and Kilgore are each stopping pucks at a .868 clip. Kilgore has seen the most action, facing 304 shots in nine appearances.

Rookie forward J.J. Coleshaw currently leads the Cougars in points, scoring five goals and collecting four assists through 13 games. McNulty, Pereira, Hunter, Cody Fowlie, Mark Schneider and Dylen McKinlay are all tied for second on the team with eight points.

Calgary enters the weekend a spot above the Cougars in the Canada West standings, sporting a 5-8-3 record. The two teams met in early November, with the Dinos taking the opening matchup 5-0 before the Cougars bounced back for a 3-2 road win highlighted by Landon Peel's double-overtime game winner.

Chris Collins is Calgary's leading scorer, having recorded six goals and 10 assists before the break. Elgin Pearce is also a threat on the offensive end, racking up five goals and seven assists in the first 16 games.

"We'll have to work hard on both ends to control their key guys," Johnson said of the Dinos. "If we play disciplined hockey and put pucks on net we'll put  ourselves in a spot to be successful."

Steven Stanford has started 10 games in net for the Dinos, earning a 3-4-3 record with a .890 save percentage and a 2.75 goals-against average. Myles Hovdebo has also seen time between the pipes, posting a .878 save percentage and 3.04 GAA.