Box Score
CALGARY – Josh Tarzwell's four-goal, five-point performance led the Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team to a lopsided 9-0 win over the University of Regina Cougars.

Mount Royal established a high pace early in the game and made sure to take control of the game right off the bat. 

To kick off his big night, Tarzwell put MRU up 1-0 six minutes into the first. After the forward was called for a coincidental roughing minor, Tarzwell flew out of the box, parked himself in front of Regina netminder Adam Evanoff and deflected Clay Hanus's point to light the lamp for the first time in the game.

Back on another powerplay, Kyle Walker extended the lead with a quick wrist shot past the blocker of Evanoff.

In the second, MRU kicked off a five-goal period with their third powerplay marker of the game. Connor Bouchard fed a perfect pass across the slot to Justin Lies who corralled the puck before shooting it into an open net. Lies's 15th goal of the season ties him for the MRU rookie goal record with former Cougars' star Riley Sawchuk. 

Josh Tarzwell scored the game's only even-strength goal halfway through the second period when he outweighed Evanoff with his backhand and slid it across the line. 

Although the MRU Cougars were piling on the goals, Evanoff had made a couple ten-bell, side-to-side saves throughout the tough game for Regina.

Similar to how he scored his first of the game, Tarzwell redirected a Clay Hanus shot from the point to complete the hat trick just over halfway through the game. 

Regina's frustration prolonged their demise, resulting in numerous penalties and more opportunities for Mount Royal to go to work on their powerplay. 

"We knew we had to keep our composure. Just because they were getting frustrated doesn't mean we have to get frustrated too," said Tarzwell. "We know it's what they're looking for. We have to stick to our game."

Less than two minutes after completing his hat trick, Tarzwell got his fourth goal of the game and third in just four minutes. 

The former Red Deer Rebel missed all of the 2023-24 season due to injuries but has come back as a goalscoring machine. But Tarzwell describes, he hasn't made scoring a priority but is happy to be contributing to the team's success.

"I just go out there and play hard. If [scoring] happens, it happens," explained Tarzwell. "I try to contribute in the way I've built my game…being physical and being hard on the forecheck."

Robbie Holmes etched his name on the scoresheet with another goal on the man-advantage, giving Mount Royal a 7-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. 

Regina was assessed their tenth minor penalty of the game early in the third. Christian Riemer was given a two-minute checking from behind infraction causing MRU centre Tristan Zandee to crash hard into the boards. Zandee was able to get up and skate off under his own power but he left the game and did not return.

On the ensuing powerplay, mid-season addition Vaughn Watterodt potted his second goal of the campaign to make it 8-0.

Veteran forward Blake Stevenson got Mount Royal's eighth powerplay goal later in the period to complete the MRU Cougars' biggest win of the season. 

Clay Hanus tied his career high with four assists. 

Riley Sims stopped all 16 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season.

MRU went 8-for-12 on the powerplay on Friday night to move their collective percentage to 30.1%, the best in the West Division.

Regina and Mount Royal will rematch on Saturday for the second and final time of the season, marking MRU's final home game of the regular season. The game will also give the home team a chance to honour their senior players. Puck drop is set for 5 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.