Box Score
CALGARY, ALBERTA – Spencer Moe was the hero in game one of the Canada West Men's Hockey Semifinal, with the Mount Royal University Cougars defeating the University of Alberta Golden Bears 3-2 in overtime. 

"It's absolutely huge," said Moe following the heroic victory. "The first one is the biggest one in our eyes."

Alberta got the first high-danger chance after Tyler Preziuso found himself on a breakaway but was stopped by Shane Farkas.

Blake Stevenson almost broke free all alone but was hauled down by Aidan de la Gorgendiere, giving Mount Royal a powerplay.

Although the Golden Bears successfully killed off that first penalty, the Cougars broke the ice just a few minutes later at even strength. 

Justin Lies' shot from the top of the left circle was deflected by Josh Tarzwell, fooling Alberta goalie Tyler Palmer and giving MRU a 1-0 lead. 

Less than a minute after the Cougars went ahead, chaos ensued after Brett Hyland was called for a charging penalty and each team engaged in some mean-spirited roughhousing after the whistle. The tangle-up resulted in MRU going on a powerplay along with Robbie Holmes and Sean Tschigerl being sent to the locker room with 10-minute misconduct, each.

After missing last year's postseason due to injury, Mount Royal goaltender Shane Farkas made his impact in the first period, robbing Golden Bears' winger with a fantastic glove save. Farkas's effort kept it 1-0 for MRU heading into the first intermission.

Halfway through the second frame, Alberta evened up the score. After the Cougars failed to get the puck out of their zone, Tschigerl found Connor McClennon wide-open for a one-timer and the Golden Bears forward rifled a shot for his third of the playoffs.

However, the equal score didn't last very long. Mount Royal star forward Connor Bouchard sprung Robbie Holmes on a breakaway and the Golden Bears were doing everything they could to withhold the former Regina Pat from scoring. Despite having Tyson Laventure draped all over him and even drawing a delayed penalty, Holmes got the puck to his forehand and shot the puck over the shoulder of Palmer. 

"I thought we were on our heels in the second period with having to kill those penalties," said MRU head coach Bert Gilling.

Once again, the Cougars held a one-goal lead heading to intermission.

Just like the second period, the resilient Golden Bears drew even again.

While on the man-advantage, de la Gorgendiere sifted a shot from the point that found its way to the back of the net to tie the game at two.

60 minutes of play had passed and the two Canada West juggernauts remained tied. Overtime was needed.

The Golden Bears had a glorious opportunity to end the game with Connor McClennon firing another one-timer from the same spot that he scored earlier in the game but this time Farkas read it perfectly, sliding across and denying McClennon point blank. 

"That was a ten-bell save," said Gilling. "He read that play, he knew [McClennon] was there. Farkas got to his spot when he was shooting the puck. That was a big-time goalie save."

Less than 30 seconds later, Spencer Moe ended it with a wrist shot that whistled past Tyler Palmer's blocker. The sold-out FCA crowd was sent into bedlam.

"I saw [Layton Feist] crisscrossing there; he wanted to go to the middle so I decided to go to the outside. I didn't have much time to shoot so I kind of just ripped it through his stick and it went in," said Moe.

Moe's big moment did not go unnoticed by his coach, as the veteran has been a huge part of the program for a long time.

"It hasn't been an easy year for him," said Bert Gilling. "He's had to battle a lot of things. He's such a great teammate and he works so hard. You just have to be happy for him."

The Cougars' game-one win puts them one step closer to reaching the final and puts Alberta on the brink of elimination.

Game two's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Flames Community Arenas. Tickets can be purchased online and the game can be streamed live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel.