CALGARY - The Crowchild Classic kicked off with a roar at the Scotiabank Saddledome. After a tough struggle through double overtime, Mount Royal's Ryley Lindgren earned an explosive final goal to win the night 5-4. 

For Mount Royal, forward Chris Gerrie set the pace with five shots on net and one goal. For Calgary, Kaden Elder and Mitch Cook led with three shots on net and one goal each. 

The game began with fervor as both sides struggled for an advantage. The Cougars were capitalizing on several opportunities, having more than double the shots on net by the ten minute mark. The Dinos were afforded several power play opportunities, but were thwarted by the Cougars' goalie Riley Morris. Despite some tough battles, the teams were unable to break the stalemate by the whistle. 

Two minutes into the second, Mount Royal's Gerrie earned his ninth goal of the season on a rebound with a power play advantage. As the period progressed, both sides traded power plays. Breaking through the tension, Cougars' Hunter Zandee took a swift pass from Nolan Yaremko and shot past Calgary's goalie Brodan Salmond. After a struggle for the advantage, Mount Royal's Allan MacPherson pushed past the defenders to find the back of the net, earning his first goal of the season. The Cougars closed the period with a three goal lead. 

Shortly after puck drop, Calgary's Mitch Cook found an opportunity and carried a pass from Dallas Hines through the Cougars defences. Less than three minutes later, James Shearer received a swift pass from Elder across the net, firing it in before Morris could swivel. At the ten minute mark, Calgary's Coda Gordon capitalized on a momentarily empty net to tie the game. Unwilling to relinquish the night, Mount Royal's Sean Richards rebounded a pass from Lindgren into the net to pull into the lead once more. With seconds to go, a struggle broke out in front of the Cougars net. Despite all the Cougars defending the territory, Calgary's Elder managed to fire it past Morris. As a result, the game snuck into overtime. 

Just a minute and a half into double overtime, Lindgren shot through the Dinos defenders to fire past Salmond with assistance from Keegan Iverson.

The rival teams will meet once more for the season on Friday, January 31st, hosted by Calgary. It will be broadcasted live on CanadaWest.tv, presented by Co-op.