University of Regina Athletics

HOW IT HAPPENED
The University of Regina Cougars men's hockey team saved their best for the third period, scoring five times in the final frame to cruise to a 6-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons at the Co-operators Centre.

Riley Fequet redirected Cole Wirun's shot past the goaltender to open the scoring at 4:18 and give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead.

Manitoba found the equalizer just 40 seconds into the second period when Eric Alarie beat Damon Cunningham to even the score at 1-1. Samuel Borschowa and Evan Toth picked up the assists.

The deadlock didn't last long in the third. Carson Whyte gave Regina the lead just 40 seconds into the frame, unleashing a long-range shot through traffic that found the top-right corner of the net to put the Cougars ahead 2-1.

Eric Hoiness doubled the lead off a long pass at 5:44 before Leyton Holoien added another at 7:14, with Jordan Borysiuk picking up the assist. Landen Gulutzan made it 5-1 when the puck deflected off his skate at 12:52, finishing a play set up by Ben Roulette.

Whyte put the finishing touch on the offensive outburst at 13:44, finding the back of the net for his second of the night and capping a dominant third-period performance from Regina. The Cougars needed just 11 shots to put five past Manitoba in the final frame.

OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Whyte led the Cougars with a pair of goals, bringing his season total to three. Fequet, Hoiness, Holoien and Gulutzan each added a one.

Regina finished with a 28-26 advantage in shots on goal, while Whyte's two-goal performance helped fuel an offensive surge that saw the Cougars score five times in just 13 minutes and four seconds.

Wirun, Borysiuk and Roulette recorded assists for Regina, while Borschowa and Toth assisted on Manitoba's lone goal.

BETWEEN THE PIPES
Damon Cunningham turned aside 25 of 26 shots to earn the win for Regina. Manitoba goaltender Braden Holt made 22 saves on 28 shots.

POWER PLAY & PENALTY KILL
The Cougars' penalty kill shut down all three Manitoba power-play opportunities. Regina also capitalized with a shorthanded goal. 

NEXT UP
The Cougars head to Virden, Man., on Saturday for the second game of the weekend series against the Bisons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.