Box Score

CALGARY – Sometimes you just want to burn the game tape and forget it ever happened.

That's probably what the MRU Cougars men's hockey team want to do after falling to the University of Calgary Dinos 4-0 in the 11th edition of the Crowchild Classic at the Scotiabank Saddledome. 

A record crowd of 13,139 packed themselves inside the historic hockey arena to watch two fierce rivals fight to claim victory in the Crowchild Classic. 

Although Mount Royal had beaten the Dinos in all four of their meetings this season, it was all Calgary on Friday night. 

"It's disappointing. It sucks to lose 4-0 in front of all those fans and us representing Mount Royal," said MRU captain Kyle Walker. "That's not Cougar Hockey and I hope people know that."

Jake Gricius scored halfway through the first to open the scoring for Calgary. The veteran winger took advantage of the Cougars' sloppy play in the defensive zone, pouncing on a turnover and quickly firing a shot past the glove of MRU netminder Shane Farkas.

Gricius's goal came shorthanded and made him the first player to score in three consecutive Crowchild Classics.

Despite being outshot 13-3 after 20 minutes, the Dinos held the all-important 1-0 lead.

Dawson Milliken gave Mount Royal their best opportunity with a hard wrister from the slot. Milliken probably would've wanted a second try, as he shot the puck right into the Dino logo on Carl Tetachuk's jersey. 

"You got to give it to Tetachuk. He played a solid game today," said Walker. "But I don't think we really tested him."

The thousands of MRU fans were in disbelief when the Cougars could not get the puck into the net partway through the second period. Remy Aquilon's point shot ricocheted through traffic, trickling wide of the net. Jayden Wiens's attempt to maneuver a pass back to the net was eventually gobbled up by Tetachuk with a scrum unfolding between the rival squads.

After coincidental roughing minors and cross checking infraction that sent Kyle Walker to the box, the Dinos went to work on a 4-on-3 man advantage. 

No stranger to scoring big goals, Colson Gengenbach sniped a shot from the top of the faceoff circle into the top corner above Farkas's blocker. Gengenbach joined his teammate Gricius to score in three straight Crowchild Classics. The goal was the forward's fifth career marker at the marquee event; the most all-time for either team.

Former Calgary Hitmen captain Tyson Galloway dealt a backbreaking goal to the Cougars with a perfectly executed redirection over the shoulder of Farkas. Galloway spent parts of six seasons with the Hitmen, making him very familiar with scoring goals at the Saddledome.

A dejected Cougar team let their play turn even sloppier in the third. Clay Hanus misplayed the puck allowing Dallon Mellin to walk in all alone and fire one past Farkas.

The once buzzing Mount Royal crowd began to completely thin out as the fans headed for the exits.

"We got beat pretty bad. There was nothing to cheer about. It was very disappointing," said Cougar head coach Bert Gilling.

The Cougars will have to regroup quickly as they rematch against the Dinos on Saturday at Father David Bauer.

"The fact of the matter is: tomorrow's game is huge for us," said Gilling. "Hopefully our group responds in the right way.

Saturday's rematch starts at 7 p.m. and can be streamed live on Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel.