The University of Regina's men's hockey team started off the 2019-20 season with non-conference games against Saskatchewan and Calgary on Thursday and Friday in Saskatoon.

The Cougars were edged 4-3 by Saskatchewan on Thursday night, then fell 6-2 to Calgary the following night.

THURSDAY RECAP
Turner Ripplinger scored just 34 seconds into his U SPORTS career, but Saskatchewan replied with goals by Jordan Tkatch and Tanner Lishchynsky later in the first and the Huskies never trailed after that. Linden McCorrister tied it up at 2-2 five minutes into the second and Mike Eskra's goal at 19:59 of the middle frame made the game 3-3 heading into the second intermission, but Saskatchewan enjoyed the run of play in the third and a goal by Colby Harmsworth four minutes into the period stood as the game winner.

Arthur Miller assisted on both Ripplinger's and Eskra's goals, giving the second-year forward a two-point night.

Brandon Holtby and Curtis Meger shared the goaltending duties for the Cougars. Both netminders allowed two goals, with Holtby making 16 saves and Meger collecting 22 stops in his U of R debut.

FRIDAY RECAP
A four-goal first period was the difference in Calgary's 6-2 win, as the Dinos got goals from Ryan Graham and Bradley Schoonbaert to open the scoring and then scored two unassisted markers in the span of just two minutes as Jordan Henderson and Matt Alfaro both lit the lamp before the first intermission.

The Cougars outshot Calgary 27-18 the rest of the way and got goals from Zak Hicks and Ben Duperreault, but the Dinos matched both of Regina's markers with goals of their own from Coda Gordon and Chris Rauckman in the third period.

Dawson MacAuley and Curtis Meger split playing time between the pipes for Regina.

NEXT UP
Non-conference play continues this coming weekend for the Cougars as they travel to Winnipeg to square off with the Manitoba Bisons on Friday night (7:00 CT) and Saturday afternoon (1:30 CT). Both games will be played at the Wayne Fleming Arena on the U of M campus.