University of Regina goalie Brandon Holtby was electric on Saturday night, breaking an 87-year-old conference record as the Cougars collected a 3-0 road win over the No. 3-ranked Alberta Golden Bears at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton.

Holtby made 50 saves in the win, breaking the previous Canada West record for most saves in a shutout which had stood since Alberta's Ralph Maybank had a 49-save shutout in 1934.

"Holtby has the ability to have nights like this," Cougars head coach Todd Johnson said. "He controlled his rebounds extremely well, and in a place like Alberta, you need players to play like that in order to win. It's nice for the guys to get their first win."

Riley Krane, Brennan Riddle, and Turner Ripplinger scored the three goals that lifted the Cougars to their first win of the conference schedule.

Krane scored his first of the year on a nice feed from Ben Duperreault to open the scoring in the first frame. Tyler Heidt and Conner Chaulk assisted Riddle on his second period power play goal, a hard shot from the blue line that deflected in off the far Alberta post. Ripplinger scored a short-handed empty net goal to ice the game in the dying seconds of the third.

The win snapped a lengthy streak in Alberta's favour in the all-time series, as the Cougars hadn't won over the Golden Bears since taking a 5-2 win in the opening game of the 2009 Canada West semifinals. Alberta had won 53 straight over the Cougars since that postseason win.

The Cougars are back in Canada West action Nov. 5 when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies at The Co-operators Centre in a game that was originally scheduled for last weekend.