The University of Regina men's hockey team came from behind to open its 2016-17 Canada West campaign with a 2-1 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday night.

Regina fell behind late in the first period after Dalton Sward opened the scoring for Lethbridge, but the Cougars replied thanks to a J.J. Coleshaw marker in the second and a Cody Fowlie goal midway through the third to seal the win.

Andy Desautels was the winning goaltender for the Cougars, stopping 28 shots to earn his second Canada West victory. Garret Hughson made 36 saves for Lethbridge.

Sward opened the scoring at the 16-minute mark of the first, taking a feed from Cory Millette and cutting through the slot, outwaiting Desautels and potting the first goal of the game. Clint Filbrandt also assisted on the goal, as the Pronghorns carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Regina would even things up thanks to Coleshaw in the second frame, as the second-year forward capitalized on a wild bounce off the end boards and poked a puck past the pad of Hughson. Dillan McCombie and Tristan Frei assisted on the goal, with Frei collecting his first Canada West point.

The Cougars carried the momentum from Coleshaw's goal into the third period, outshooting the 'Horns 12-2 in the opening minutes, though Hughson was up to the task and kept the score even.

Regina would earn the deciding goal just over halfway through the frame, as Landon Peel put a point shot towards the net. The puck hit a body in front and ended up right on Fowlie's stick, and the Cougar captain was able to put it past Hughson before the netminder could react. Isaach Schacher also assisted on the goal for his first point with the Cougars.

The Pronghorns and Cougars will face off again on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 1 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.