December 1 - It was just the early Christmas gift the Bisons wanted heading into the holiday break.

The University of Manitoba downed the University of Saskatchewan 4-2 Saturday evening, earning a weekend sweep over the No. 3-ranked Huskies.

The Bisons and Huskies have now split the season series, each winning a pair of games.

"We were disappointed the last time we played them," said Bisons head coach Don MacGillivray. "We let that game slip away from us. I thought we played well enough to win in that first series against them but lost in the last 30-seconds. We learned some lessons there and I thought our guys played pretty disciplined in terms placing the puck and putting the puck in the good areas, finishing checks. Some of the little things you have to do against a good club."

With their third straight win, Manitoba improves to 9-6-1 on the season, and be in third place in the Canada West standings heading into the second half of the season. The loss drops the Huskies record to 10-3-3, but they will remain tied for top spot with the University of Alberta, as the Golden Bears have already started their break.

"This sends us into a break on a high note and hopefully that'll carry us into the second half on the right track, and hopefully we can keep it going," said Bisons forward Rick Wood who had the game-winning goal and an assist. Coupled with his two assists on Friday, that gives Wood the team lead in scoring with 20 points. "I don't really keep track of that, I just want to win games."

Also scoring for Manitoba was Mike Hellyer, Rob Smith and Chris Falloon. Cody Purves and Brad Erickson replied for Saskatchewan.

Krister Toews stopped 26-shots to pick up the win while Jeff Harvey made 30-saves in the losing effort for the Huskies.

For the second consecutive night, Manitoba scored within the first two minutes of the game. Kyle Howarth's shot from the ring wing couldn't be corralled and Hellyer put the rebound past a sprawled out Huskies netminder, Jeff Harvey. That gave the Bisons the lead at 1:57 of the first.

The Bisons scored once more before the opening period was out, taking advantage of a penalty box full of Huskies. Manitoba had a two-man advantage for nearly two-minutes while Saskatchewan had three players in the sin-bin. Brett Dickie was sent off for interference and a minute later Jeff Schmidt was assessed a slashing penalty. Once the play ended near the Huskies net, Garret Soparlo drew a roughing-the-whistle call. The Bisons cycled the puck and Smith's point shot hit the left post and in. That powerplay marker made the score 2-0 at 15:24.

The Huskies first goal didn't come until there was 30-seconds left in the second period. After a shot on goalie, Krister Toews, the Bisons defence had trouble clearing the rebound and Purves scooped the puck up, sliding it underneath Toews.

Manitoba regained their two goal lead just 2:22 into the third period. Stewart Thiessen's shot rebounded straight to Wood who was perched to the right of the net, and he made no mistake burying it in the back of the net. Falloon scored on a breakaway, freezing Harvey and going to his backhand for the goal at 13:03. Erickson added a late goal for Saskatchewan at 18:21, but it was not enough.

Next up for Manitoba, the Bisons will journey to Thunder Bay for some holiday exhibition in the Varsity Cup, December 27-30. The Herd will face-off against the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, the York University Lions, and host Lakehead University Thunderwolves (No. 6-ranked). The tournament is a round-robin format with the top two teams playing for the Varsity Cup December 30.

The Bisons will return to Canada West play January 4, when they take on the No. 2-ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton. The Huskies will also be off for the Christmas break, playing a lone exhibition game December 30 at home against the University of Calgary Dinos. Their next Canada West action will be January 4 when they play the first of a home-and-home series against the University of Regina Cougars, in Regina.

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