Men's Hockey 3/2/2015 12:00:00 AM

DINOS WIN 6-3; COUGARS COMPLETE FINEST CIS SEASON

Courstesy of: Calgary Sports Information

CALGARY â€"Â Carrying a slim lead into the third period, the No. 4 University of Calgary Dinos got two big goals to propel them to a 6-3 Game 3 win over the No. 9 Mount Royal University Cougars and in the decideing game of their best-of-three Canada West semi-final series.

The Dinos advance now to the conference final where they will play the No. 1 Alberta Golden Bears for the second consecutive year, next weekend in Edmonton. The win also gives Calgary a berth at the CIS University Cup which will be held in two weeks from Halifax â€" their first trip to the national championship since 2011.

After being stifled offensively through the first two games, the Dinos finally managed to pepper the MRU goal with 37 shots and were rewarded as the power play got its first real opportunity of the series, scoring three times with the man-advantage.

"Tonight was our best effort of the series, the guys executed really well," said Dinos head coachÂ Mark Howell. "Our captains and our leaders were our leaders for us tonight.Â Kevin KingÂ andÂ Walker WintoneakÂ were really good."

"We turned the page and came in with a refreshed, positive, confident attitude," explained King went asked about rebounding from the Dinos' 5-2 loss in Game 2. "We can't look too far ahead, we still have some work to do and win Canada West."

Even while killing off three penalties, the Dinos managed to play a strong first period and outshot the Cougars 12-6.

With their first power play of the game, Calgary made it 1-0 off a deflection on net. AfterÂ Walker WintoneakÂ batted down a point shot,Â Kevin KingÂ did his best Bobby Orr impression across the crease while tapping the rebound past Dalyn Flette. King's first of the playoffs came at 13:29.

As had been the pattern throughout the series, Mount Royal tied the game moments later. Patiently taking the puck from the blue line, Emerson Hrynyk skated deep into the zone, around the net. Once he was positioned back out front, the defender snapped a shot throughÂ Kris LazarukÂ to tie the score.

Power plays would dominate the middle frame as each team scored their goals with an opponent in the sin bin. The Dinos took a 2-1 lead off a shot from the hash marks byÂ Walker Wintoneak. The goal was his first of the year after missing all but four regular season games due to injury. Again the Cougars responded, tying the score again on their lone man advantage of the period as Matthew Brown batted a puck high beside the cross bar down and in for his third of the playoffs at the 10:57 mark.

Davis VandaneÂ put the Dinos back in front with their third power play goal of the game under four minutes left in the second period. Off a draw in the offensive zone,Â Dylan WalchukÂ swept the puck to the point whereÂ Davis Vandane's shot beat Flette. Moments later Walchuk would have a chance to give Calgary a two-goal lead, but the Cougars' netminder made a fabulous sliding save to deny the Dinos the goal.

Hoping to avoid another third period comeback by Mount Royal, the Dinos put on a fearless display of penalty killing early in the final frame. Lazaruk made big saves while the likes ofÂ Adam KambeitzÂ andÂ Phil TotÂ threw everything they had in front of shots to keep their team in front.

"They were blocking with their feet and head, it was a statement that we were going to win this game," noted Howell.

That seemed to give the Dinos some extra motivation as they got a pair of important insurances goals fromÂ Chris CollinsÂ andÂ Elgin PearceÂ to put them up 5-3.

Mount Royal would pull the goalie late and score to cut the lead to two off the stick of Brown, but Calgary iced the series with an empty net goal byÂ Cain Franson.

Calgary outshot Mount Royal 37-28. The Dinos went 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Cougars went 1-for-5.

The Canada West finals between the Dinos and Golden Bears will take place from Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7 at Clare Drake Arena. From there both teams will travel to the East Coast for a chance at the national championship. The University Cup runs March 12-15 at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Tanner Olstad: Forward; 5' 10"; Second Year

#16 Rob Trzonkowski: Forward; 6' 2"; First Year

#11 Brett Zarazun: Defence; 6' 2"; Second Year

Players Mentioned

#17 Tanner Olstad
: 5' 10"; Second Year
: Forward

#16 Rob Trzonkowski
: 6' 2"; First Year
: Forward

#11 Brett Zarazun
: 6' 2"; Second Year
: Defence

Players Mentioned

#17 Tanner Olstad

#16 Rob Trzonkowski

#11 Brett Zarazun

Players Mentioned

#17 Tanner Olstad

#16 Rob Trzonkowski

#11 Brett Zarazun