Box Score
CALGARY – You didn't have to tell any of the players on the Flames Community ice how big Friday's game was. 

In a clash of Canada West's top two teams, the MRU Cougars men's hockey team downed the University of Alberta 4-1. 

Mount Royal met the magnitude of the occasion with their play early in the game.

Promoted to top-line centre, Jayden Wiens put the Cougars in front just 90 seconds into the game. The former Brandon Wheat King cut through the slot, receiving a pass from Connor Bouchard. Alberta goalie Ethan Kruger denied Wiens' first attempt but couldn't corral the rebound, allowing the MRU forward to slide it into the net.

Less than two minutes later, things didn't look to be getting any better for the Golden Bears. 

Ty Nash was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check to the head of Cougars' second-year Tristan Zandee, who left the game and did not return.

A game-altering penalty had the potential to throw off the Cougars but the team knew they had to stay composed.

"We had a players' only meeting on Monday and something that we wanted to hone in on was our discipline," explained MRU captain Kyle Walker. "After the hit, we had one or two ways to go. I think everyone stayed composed."

Mount Royal made the Golden Bears pay on the extended man-advantage. Bouchard made another seeing-eye pass across the ice to an open Justin Lies who quickly shot it past Kruger to make it 2-0.

Continuing their dominance, the Cougars made it three goals before the clock passed over the halfway mark of the opening period. Connor Poffenroth stole the puck from his namesake, Connor McClennon, to shift the play in MRU's favour. Poffenroth waited patiently for the Cougars to find a break before sending Josh Tarzwell on a breakaway. Tarzwell was initially denied by Kruger but was able to put in the rebound to make it 3-0. 

The Golden Bears netminder, Kruger faced an abundance of shots from MRU but looked to be having a little bit of trouble with his rebounds.

Kruger and Alberta faced a significant uphill battle with 40 minutes left to play.

Fortunately for them, the daunting 3-0 deficit was cut to a two-goal lead less than a minute into the second. Alberta veteran and captain Josh Prokop shot the puck as bodies converged on the MRU net. The puck somehow trickled through Cougars' goalie Shane Farkas and into the net.

A brief lapse was worrisome for Mount Royal, but they quickly returned to the stellar play.

"There was a little lull at the start of the second period," said Cougars' head coach Bert Gilling. "But the guys got right back to it and I was really proud of the way they responded."

After four goals between the two university juggernauts in the first 21 minutes, the game would go scoreless until the dying minutes of the game. 

Shane Farkas was dialed in for the Cougars, keeping the door shut when the Golden Bears piled on the pressure. 

Mount Royal would seal the win with an empty net goal scored by Blake Stevenson, who was making his season debut.

Stevenson was thrust into a big role after Tristan Zandee's injury but he showed why he's an important member of the team. 

"When we lost Tristan early, it put a little more pressure on [Stevenson]. We wanted to manage him a little for his first game back," said Gilling. "Overall, he's such a smart player and I think he had good legs."

With Friday's game behind them, Mount Royal and Alberta turn their focus to a rematch three hours north at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. Saturday's tilt holds just as much importance for each side and is the final game before the holiday break.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be streamed live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.