Box Score CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos trounced the Mount Royal University Cougars by a 4-1 score in Friday night Canada West men's hockey action.

The Cougars did not bring their best in the first period after coming back to the rink from a bye week. The rust certainly showed for Mount Royal, who looked like they were skating in mud to start the game. 

"It just wasn't a good night," said MRU head coach Bert Gilling. "It started bad… we had ten days between games and obviously we were not ready to play."

Jake Poole scored his third of the season halfway through the first. Poole fooled the Cougars defence when he kicked the puck back to his own stick and slid the puck into the small gap between the post and MRU netminder Zach Zahara's toe.

Later in the period, the Dinos doubled up on the Cougars with a powerplay marker off the stick of Hayden Pakkala. The goal was Pakkala's team-leading fourth of the season.

Coming into Friday's contest, the Dinos had the league's worst penalty kill, allowing 7 goals on 16 man advantages. However, Calgary's kill was stellar at Flames Community Arena and stifled the Cougars' first three powerplays.

Midway through the second period, Mount Royal went on a two-man advantage. In a desperate attempt to get on the board, the Cougars sent out a five-forward unit. As the first penalty expired, Logan Hauer escaped from the box in behind the Cougars and was sprung on a breakaway by Pakkala. Hauer made a perfect shot on Zahara's low blocker to give the Dinos a controlling 3-0 lead. 

Still on the powerplay, MRU finally found the back of the net. Bowden Singleton netted his first of the year. The former Calgary Canucks captain has been red hot to start the season, with five points in three games.

Singleton's goal would be the lone bright spot for the home team.

In the third period, Carter Massier netted his first of the year. Massier had been a puck hound all night long and was rewarded with a goal, pushing the game out of reach.

Dinos veteran netminder Carl Tetachuk was named first star of the game, stopping 34 shots for his first victory of the season.

With a young team, the Cougars are still figuring out how to get going when they find themselves in a rut. Faced with adversity for the first time this year, time will tell how they will respond.

"It's safe to say that we are still trying to figure out this group," said Gilling after the loss. "You learn through experiences. This league is tough; it's unforgiving."

The Cougars will have another chance against the Dinos on Saturday, this time at Father David Bauer Arena, just up Crowchild Trail. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m MDT.