Huskies women’s hockey team has intangibles to make another memorable season
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| The U of S Huskies pose with the Canada West banner and trophy. |
The University of Saskatchewan
Huskies women’s hockey team had a historical campaign in 2013-14 winning their
first Canada West title and capturing a bronze medal at the Canadian
Interuniversity Sport championship tournament.
Most of that team returns for the
2014-15 campaign. Watching them interact with each other during and after their
two exhibition wins last weekend against the Red Deer College Queens of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, it was
obvious to see a strong bond exists between the Huskies players.
They like being together, and they
like hitting the ice at the Rutherford Rink or any other rink. They are
confident in their abilities on the ice, and they are confident and comfortable
with themselves are as persons on the ice and away from the rink.
When any team has all those
attributes, that club becomes a very difficult opponent to face and defeat.
On the ice this season, the Huskies will face
their share of challenges. As the defending conference champ, every one of
their opponents will view a match against them as a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Even the Queens came out in last
weekend’s exhibition series at the Rutherford Rink looking to prove something.
On Saturday, the visitors came out with a big initial push, and their effort
didn’t waver.
The composure of the Huskies showed
through. Even when they didn’t have the momentum, it didn’t seem like they were
in trouble. They built a 2-0 lead and held off a late Queens charge for a 2-1
win.
During Sunday’s rematch, the Huskies
took their game to another level. After giving up an early power-play goal,
they kept the Queens contained in their zone with an aggressive forecheck. The
hosts rolled to a 5-1 win, and they were buzzing all over the place.
Individually, the Huskies have a lot
of players that can be difference makers. Kaitlin Willoughby, last year’s CIS
rookie of the year, looks physically stronger and more powerful on the ice than
a season ago. She also has an offensive skill set that very few players have.
Forward Marley Ervine provides a lot
of feistiness and grit, which seems to be a trademark of players regardless of
gender that come from her hometown of Kindersley.
Fifth year forward Kandace Cook can
seemly be set up with a variety of linemates up front, and she makes herself
and her linemates shine through.
Veteran rearguards Brooke Mutch,
Hanna McGillivray and Julia Flinton are super solid on the back end. They can
both shut things down on the defensive side, and control play when they have
the puck. Flinton, a second team Canada West all-star, has the best playmaking
ability and vision offensively out of that group.
Third-year netminder Cassidy
Hendricks was a second team Canada West all-star last season, and she proved
she doesn’t get fazed when it comes time to play in the clutch. During the 2-1
best-of-three Canada West championship series win over the University of Regina
Cougars, Hendricks made a huge amount of key stops with all three games going
to overtime resulting in 17 periods and 296 minutes of hockey.
Rookie forward Chelsea Wilson also
showed flashes against the Queens, which could mean she could potentially come
through in key moments as the season progresses.
I have seen few teams personally in
my time that had the veteran presence, the intangibles and overall “it” factor
the Huskies have.
The Medicine Hat Tigers in 2006-07 had it in the major junior ranks and
went on to win a WHL title and earn a berth in the Memorial Cup final.
The 2000-01 U of R Cougars women’s basketball team had it and
went on to win a conference and a CIS title. The 1998 Regina Rams had it and
went on exit the Canadian Junior Football League as national champs before
joining the university ranks.
For the Huskies to have success, the
focus can’t be on the end result. All the players on the three other teams I
mentioned just enjoyed where they were at that moment of time in their everyday
lives in their respective campaigns.
The Huskies just need to enjoy going
to the rink with the aim of getting better each day, because at the end of a
long stretch they will be a lot better.
They have to enjoy and cherish the
everyday interactions with their friends and buds on the ice, because that
helps make the rink one of the best places to be.
Also, they have to enjoy the game.
At one point in time, they all got into hockey because it is a fun game where
you simply score more goals than the other team, and that must be something
that is never lost.
When they do all those things, the
Huskies will arrive at the end of the season before they know it, and they
shouldn’t be surprised if they are in a lot of important post-season games as a
result. They will have a chance to accomplish all their end goals.
If you have any feedback on this
blog, feel free to email comments to stankssports@gmail.com.
