The University of Regina men's hockey team fell 7-2 to the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns at The Co-operators Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Justin Valentino and Jay Merkley each had two goals and two assists as the Pronghorns completed the sweep of the Cougars. Ryon Moser, Spenser Jensen and Dalton Sward also scored for Lethbridge, while Mitchell Maxwell racked up three assists. Gray Marr (pictured) and Logan Harland replied for the Cougars.

Lethbridge struck first at 10:29 of the first period as Merkley picked up a loose puck in the Cougar end and fed it down low to Maxwell, who sent a no look pass into the slot. Valentino was right there to fire a quick one timer past Andy Desautels.

The Pronghorns ballooned their early lead with a pair of goals within 35 seconds, as Moser and Merkley each beat Desautels. Moser's goal was set up by a nice individual effort from Torrin White, who weaved through the Cougar zone and slipped a pass across for Moser to tuck away. Merkley's goal was assisted by Clint Filbrandt, as a cross-ice pass ended up on Merkley's stick and he picked up his second point of the game with a quick shot to the short side.

The Cougars scored their first goal of the game at the 2:31 mark of the second, as Marr was in the right spot to net a rebound off a Tyler Bell slapshot from the point. Dillan McCombie also assisted on Marr's second of the season.

The Cougars had 41 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage to try and cut the lead to a goal but it was Lethbridge that would score. Jensen blocked a point shot and took the puck the other way, electing to shoot on a 2-on-1 rush. His shot beat Dawson MacAuley to the blocker side and restored the three-goal lead.

Regina killed off a full two minutes of a Lethbridge 5-on-3 opportunity at the end of the second, with Brody Luhning and Carter Hansen blocking numerous shots and MacAuley making a couple of key saves.

Sward, Merkley and Valentino added third period goals for the 'Horns, while Harland netted his second of the weekend with a quick shot off assists from Tyler Bell and Cody Fowlie.

Desautels and MacAuley combined to make 33 saves for the Cougars, while Garret Hughson stopped 25 shots at the other end of the rink.

The Cougars (3-12-1) and Pronghorns will head into the December break before resuming Canada West play in January.