Saturday 23 November 2019

Dmytriw sees Huskies through to 2-0 victory

Jared Dmytriw (#15) wins a draw for the Huskies.
    It’s true, it’s true, Jared Dmytriw potted two.
    The 21-year-old centre scored twice on Saturday to lift his University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team to a 2-0 victory over the University of Regina Cougars in a U Sports regular season clash. The Craven, Sask., product is having a strong rookie campaign leading the Huskies in scoring with six goals and eight assists for 14 points to go with a plus-nine rating in the plus-minus department.
    His two goals put daggers into the Cougars hopes for an upset victory before 1,370 spectators at Merlis Belsher Place. 
Jared Dmytriw drives towards the net for the Huskies.
    They both came in the third period and disrupted a goaltending duel between Huskies goalie Travis Child and Cougars netminder Brandon Holtby.
    At the 4:46 mark of the third, Dmytriw broke on the right wing roofed a shot top left corner of the Cougars goal to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
    He netted his second of the night at the eight-minute mark of the third when he picked up a loose puck beside the U of R net and roofed the puck over top of Holtby.
    Dmytriw’s tallies allowed the Huskies to win their sixth straight game as they improved to 9-3-2. The Cougars fell to 2-11-1.
    The Huskies downed the Cougars one night earlier 3-1 in Regina.
The Huskies celebrate Jared Dmytriw’s first goal.
    “They are our close rival, so it is going to be tight game no matter what,” said Dmytriw. “Inevitably, the bounces kind of went our way, and we found a way to get a couple in the third.”
    Dmytriw is picking up with the Huskies from where he left off when he graduated from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
    Last season as the Giants captain in his overage campaign, Dmytriw netted 15 goals, 23 assists and a plus-seven rating in the plus-minus department. He helped the Giants finish second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 48-15-3-2 record.
    Dmytriw proceeded to hit another gear in the post-season. He played in all of the Giants 22 playoff games recording nine goals, 12 assists and a plus-11 rating.
Jared Dmytriw leads the Huskies in scoring with 14 points.
    The Giants advanced to last May’s best-of-seven WHL championship series against the Prince Albert Raiders. The series went the distance, and the Raiders claimed a 3-2 overtime victory at home in Game 7 to win the league title.
    Upon joining the Huskies, Dmytriw kept rolling in high gear.
    “It is exciting,” said Dmytriw, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 195 pounds. “It is a lot of fun.
    “It is nice to be close to home. It has been almost a seamless transition. We have such a great group of guys here.
    “We’re just kind of finding our legs and getting on a roll here, and we’re going to carry it into next weekend and then into the finals break.”
    While he has played his first 14 regular season games with the Huskies, Dmytriw admitted he has moments where his mind reflects on what happened with the Giants in the WHL final.
The Huskies celebrate Jared Dmytriw’s second goal.
    “You still think about it,” said Dmytriw. “You think about how close we were.
    “You can’t get much closer than one shot away in overtime in Game 7. Those are memories I’m going to look back on for the rest of my life. That group of guys that we had and the battle that we went through in that series, it was awesome.
    “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
    Dmytriw can still see some of the chances his Giants missed in overtime before Dante Hannoun scored the winner for the Raiders.
    “It was back-and-forth there,” said Dmytriw. “We went down 3-1 in the series and won Game 5 and 6.
    “Going into Game 7, both teams are confident. Anything can go either way. It went their way.
    “They had a really good team and had really good season, so hats off to them. I’m just really proud of our group and how far we came that year.”
    Upon joining the Huskies, Dmytriw had to get used to going to school again. 
Jared Dmytriw sets to make a drop pass.
    He is a business major at the U of S and credited the Huskies for being a big help as far as academics are concerned.
    “It is a transition coming out of the Western League where I haven’t been going to school for the last couple of years, but it has been really good,” said Dmytriw. “The classes are all good.
    “Profs are good, and there is a lot of support here with our group and our organization from the school.”
    Being able to contribute out of the gate offensively at the U Sports level has been a big plus too.
    “It is really good hockey,” said Dmytriw. “There are a lot of ex-WHL players in there.
    “They are just all older now, and they are all men. It comes down to confidence. Once you get the confidence and get rolling there, you kind of find you legs and stuff starts going your way.”
    Dmytriw centres a line that contains Collin Shirley at left wing and Justin Ball at right wing.
    The Huskies are without veteran forwards Kohl Bauml, Wyatt Johnson and Jordan Tkatch due to injury, and all three can put up numbers offensively.
Travis Child made 28 saves to pick up a shutout victory.
    Dmytriw is pleased how his team has responded with a next man up mentality. He has enjoyed playing on a line with Shirley and Ball.
    Shirley picked up assists on both of Dmytriw’s goals.
    “It was a good breakout there (on the first goal),” said Dmytriw. “We focused on our transition game kind of coming into the game, so we got the puck going quick and got the transition going up the ice.
    “I was able to get a shot and luckily it went in.”
    Due to the fact his hometown is only a two hour drive south of Saskatoon, Dmytriw has had a big contingent out to support him at his home games with the Huskies. During his five seasons in the WHL from 2014 to 2019, Dmytriw played with the Victoria Royals, Red Deer Rebels and Giants.
    He only spent 26 regular season games with the Rebels, which meant he mainly played in the Western Conference resulting in limited opportunities to play road games in Saskatchewan.
The Huskies celebrate a sixth straight victory.
    Dmytriw is pleased he is no longer living such a great distance away from home, and it will be easier for his family to see him play over the next number of seasons.
    “It is awesome having family in the stands,” said Dmytriw. “They’ve been here for every game.
    “They were in the stands again tonight, so it is awesome to have that support. It is pretty cool after being away for so long.”
    Child stopped 28 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies, which was also his third career regular season shutout in U Sports play. Holtby turned away 32 shots in goal for the Cougars.
    The Huskies return to action Friday, when they travel to Calgary, Alta., to face the Mount Royal University Cougars (10-3-0-1).

Huskies burst for four goals, outlast Cougars

Bailee Bourassa scored for the Huskies on Saturday.
    The U of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team needed all of their offensive burst of four goals to down the U of Regina Cougars.
    On Saturday at the Co-operators Centre in Regina, Sask., the Huskies slipped past the Cougars 4-3 in a feisty back-and-forth battle. The sides were tied up 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 after the second.
    The Huskies jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third before the Cougars scored to cut the visitors edge to 4-3. The host side wasn’t able to find the equalizer after that.
    Fifth-year checking forward Elizabeth Salyn scored the winner and her first tally of the campaign for the Huskies at the 13:20 mark of the third period.
    Chelsea Debusschere, Rachel Lundberg and Bailee Bourassa had singles for the Huskies.
Jaycee Magwood, Paige Hubbard and Jadyn Kushniruk replied with singles for the Cougars.
    Kushniruk’s tally was her first career U Sports regular season goal. She is in her rookie season with the Cougars having graduated from the Prince Albert Northern Bears female midget AAA team.
    Saturday’s clash contained some rough stuff as Huskies fourth-year defender Kayla Kirwan and Magwood were both given double minors for checking to the head at the 6:16 mark of the third.
    Jessica Vance made 10 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies (7-4-2-1). Morgan Baker turned away 20 shots to take the setback in goal for the Cougars (6-8).
    Vance now has a 31-12-5 regular season record in her U Sports career with a 1.14 goals against average, a .950 save percentage and 17 shutouts. She equaled Vanessa Frederick for the second most career regular season victories in the history of the Huskies women’s hockey program.
    Frederick played for the Huskies for the Huskies from 2007 to 2010 and in 2011-12 posting a 31-21 record, a 2.30 goals against average, a .914 save percentage and five shutouts in regular season play.
    The Huskies return to action on Friday, when they host the Mount Royal University Cougars (8-6) at 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.

Kliewer stones Wildcats in 2-1 Stars win

Arden Kliewer makes one of her 33 saves for the Stars.
    Arden Kliewer showed her pedigree in being the one of the best goaltenders to ever play in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League.
    On Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place, Kliewer made 33 stops to back the Saskatoon Stars to a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats. The loss was the first for the Wildcats in the SFMAAAHL regular season as they fell to 8-1.
    The win was a big confidence booster for the rebuilding Stars, who improved to 5-6-2.
    Kliewer came up huge keeping the Stars in the first period making 13 saves as the host side was outshot 14-3. Centre Crystal Wale netted the Wildcats goal in the opening frame, which would be their only tally in the contest.
    The Stars got traction in the second period as captain Makena Kushniruk scored twice to put the host side up 2-1. Kushniruk’s second tally came with less than 20 seconds to play in the second.  
    With Kliewer holding the fort, the Stars closed things out defensively in the third period. Cheynne Jamieson turned away 17 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wildcats.
    The win was Kliewer’s 41st career regular season victory which ranks second all-time in the history of the SFMAAAHL.
    The Wildcats and Stars go at it again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.

Hilltops’ grads take final bows at team awards

Jadyn Pingue took home the Hilltops team award for top linebacker.
    The Saskatoon Hilltops graduating players took centre stage at the team’s awards banquet.
    On Friday at the Delta Marriott Hotel, the 2019 Hilltops gathered for one last time to celebrate winning a sixth straight CJFL championship. Six days earlier in Langley, B.C., the Hilltops downed the host Rams 11-6 to remain CJFL champs and retain possession of the Canadian Bowl.
    The Hilltops wrapped a second straight perfect campaign posting a 12-0 record this season. They were 11-0 in 2018.
    At the awards banquet on Friday, graduating players claimed all six of the possible major seven team awards that could be claimed.
    Offensive right guard Taylon Elderkin claimed the Ron Atchison “True Grit” award.
    Defensive tackle Jesse McNabb was named the winner of the Drs. Landa-Doig Award as the team’s most outstanding graduate.
    The Blue and Gold award for dedication and commitment went to receiver Connor Graham.
    The Courtice Inspiration Award went to defensive back Colton Holmes, who missed a number of games before returning to play for the Hilltops in their victory in the Canadian Bowl. Holmes dressed for only four of the Hilltops regular season games and the CJFL title contest.
    Jadyn Pingue claimed the Don and Jim Seaman Memorial Award as the Hilltops top linebacker. Pingue was named the CJFL’s most outstanding defensive player for the 2019 campaign.
    Offensive left guard Ryder Klisowsky took the Ray Syrnyk Trophy as the Hilltops top lineman.
    Defensive lineman Jacob Yuzak took the Past President’s Trophy as the rookie of the year.
    At the awards banquet, Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant gave one his best speeches he ever gave at that event. Of course, he thanked his wife, Kris, and daughters, Macy and Abby, for their support.
The late Justin Filteau in action for the Hilltops in 2014.
    He also talked about the importance of late Hilltops linebacker Justin Filteau, who passed away in early June in a plane crash at age 26. Filteau played for the Hilltops from 2010 to 2014 winning four CJFL titles.
    He was a CJFL all-Canadian all-star at linebacker in his final campaign with the Hilltops before moving on to play for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team at the U Sports level.
    Sargeant said that before the season Pingue came to him suggestion Filteau’s #45 should be retired. Pingue joined the Hilltops in the 2015 campaign and took up wearing #45.
    Sargeant said it would be important for Pingue to keep wearing #45 as a way to keep Filteau’s memory alive. The Hilltops dedicated their season to Filteau and wore #45 decals on their helmets.
    Pingue started at middle linebacker for the Hilltops in 2019, which would be the only campaign he would be a starter with the club. In a fitting way for things to work out, he had a campaign where he was a Prairie Football Conference all-star, a CJFL all-Canadian all-star and was named the most outstanding defensive player for both the PFC and CJFL.
    It was safe to say that Pingue held up Filteau’s number really well.
    Since none of the current Hilltops were ever teammates with Filteau, the team’s coaches did an outstanding job of passing on Filteau’s importance to the Hilltops and Saskatchewan’s football community.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.
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