Box Score The MRU Cougars men's hockey team defeated the UBC Thunderbirds for the second night in a row by a score of 4-3 on Saturday evening at Flames Community Arenas.

Reigning U SPORTS Goaltender of the Year Shane Farkas made his first start of the season on Saturday. Mount Royal was efficiently suppressing UBC's shots and Farkas was not very busy in the first period. 

Cougars' captain Kyle Walker showed why he has the 'C' on his chest when he blocked three consecutive Thunderbird shots and kept the puck away from MRU's net. A shift that exemplified his leadership, Walker knows that it starts with him.

"I would never expect any one of my teammates to do anything I wouldn't do," explained Walker. "I think that's self-explanatory for blocking shots."

Late in the period, the T-Birds took advantage of one of their few chances. Centre Scott Atkinson shovelled the puck toward the MRU net and across the crease in front of Farkas. Before the Cougar netminder could get his glove over top of it, Thunderbird captain Chris Douglas pounced on the loose puck, poking it across the line. 

UBC took a 1-0 lead into the second despite only managing a few shots. 

Cole Schwebius was stellar in the Thunderbird crease and looked poised for another steady game. The veteran netminder held his line solidly.

On Friday, it took the Cougars 57 minutes to put one past Schwebius. In Saturday's rematch, Mount Royal's first goal came a little earlier.

Jayden Wiens sent Tim Gould on a breakaway midway through the second. Despite being hooked by the chasing UBC defenceman, Gould swiftly deked the puck to his backhand and slid the puck past the toe of Schwebius. 

After the Thunderbirds took a slashing penalty, the Cougars second powerplay unit converted. 

Kyle Walker fired a shot through a crowded area, fooling Schwebius to give the MRU their first lead of the game. 

"For me, offence will come when it comes. My main goal is to defend and keep the puck out of our net," said Walker while explaining his playing style.

However, the Cougar lead would quickly evaporate when Alex Serraglio's shot could not be handled by the glove of Shane Farkas. The T-Bird defenceman first of the year even the score at two.

After 40 minutes of fierce, scrappy hockey, the two Canada West juggernauts were at a deadlock.

Two quick penalties committed by UBC gave Mount Royal an early two-man advantage where the Cougars were able to capitalize. Clay Hanus calmly walked the blueline before shooting a rapid wrist shot that found its way past Cole Schweibus.

The Cougars had the lead for the second time in the game. And for the second time, UBC quickly erased it. 

UBC took advantage of a Mount Royal penalty. After receiving a game misconduct on Friday, Tian Rask redeemed himself with a goal on the doorstep of the net to make it 3-3 partway through the final frame.

The T-Birds found themselves on another powerplay late in the third but this time there was a different outcome. As UBC broke out of their zone to start the powerplay rush, Cougars forward Josh Tarzwell astutely stepped up on Thunderbird forward Carson Latimer, stealing the puck and giving himself a breakaway. 

Just as Tarzwell's teammate Tim Gould had done earlier in the game, Tarzwell skillfully deked to his backhand and slid the puck under the pad of Cole Schwebius.

The Cougars' late-game heroics propelled them to another 4-3 win over the UBC Thunderbirds.

"We're maturing as a team quickly," said Kyle Walker following Saturday's win. "We're a lot more comfortable playing in one-goal games. We've got a great group of boys and things are starting to click."

The undefeated Cougars will get set to renew their rivalry with their crosstown neighbours next weekend when they host the University of Calgary Dinos on Friday and then head to Father David Bauer for a rematch on Saturday. Tickets to Friday's game can be purchased online and all Cougar games can be streamed live on Canada West TV.