Netminder makes 31 stops for second shutout
of season
Jessica Vance has played to her star reputation since joining the Huskies. |
After being out of
the game for two seasons, the 20-year-old Prince Albert, Sask., product made
her fifth start in goal in the current campaign for the University of
Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team at the ancient Rutherford Rink on
Saturday. She came up with another spectacular performance making 31 saves to
help the Huskies post a 2-0 shutout win against the visiting Mount Royal
University Cougars in a U Sports clash.
In her five starts,
Vance, who stands 5-foot-7, has posted a 3-2 record, a 1.41 goals against
average, a .945 save percentage and two shutouts.
She has displayed
the form that made her one of the all-time greatest goalies in the history of
the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League, when she played for the
Prince Albert Northern Bears.
Goalie Jessica Vance holds off the pressure from the Cougars. |
“It is pretty nice
being back,” said Vance. “I forgot how much fun it was.
“It was just so much
fun just playing the sport I love. I just feel like I am right back in it.”
After exhausting her midget AAA eligibility, Vance committed
to play for the U of Manitoba Bisons women’s hockey team, but she was forced to
sit out the 2015-16 campaign as a medical redshirt after suffering a major leg
injury playing competitive softball in the summer of 2015.
Morgan Willoughby (#9) celebrates a goal with Jessica Vance. |
On Nov. 10 in
Vancouver, B.C., Vance made her Huskies debut getting the start against the
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who are a powerhouse in the Canada
West Conference. She made 33 saves to pick up a 2-0 shutout victory.
“I was nervous
definitely,” said Vance, who started her academic studies at the U of S in
January. “It was good. I think after the first period I kind of realized that I
know what to do and that I should just stay in there.
“It was a pretty big
win. I think that was really what I needed to get that first win out of the way
and to get the nerves out of the way. It was good.”
Huskies head coach Steve
Kook said he only started to get to work with Vance this season after taking a
professional year leave up absence from the U of Saskatchewan in the 2016-17
campaign. He was impressed with how Vance just stayed calm no matter what life
threw at her, which is a key characteristic for a goalie.
Courtney Cormack had the Huskies first goal on Saturday. |
“She doesn’t get up
or down. That is the impressive part about her.”
During the first
period of Saturday’s win over the Cougars, Kook said Vance made a key kick save
on a screen shot that help set the tone for the Huskies in the contest.
“I think there must
have been about four people in front of the net, and I don’t know how she saw
it,” said Kook. “That was a game saver.
Morgan Willoughby starts a rush up ice for the Huskies. |
After a scoreless
second, the Huskies went ahead 2-0 at the 9:30 mark of the third on a gritty
goal from third-year defender Morgan Willoughby, who was one of Vance’s
teammates with the Bears in Prince Albert.
The Cougars pulled
starting goaltender Emily Severson at that point, who stopped 26-of-28 shot
fired her way. Zoe DeBeauville played the rest of the way in the Mount Royal
goal in relief, but didn’t face any shots.
Vance said her team’s
persistent effort in the offensive zone proved to be key in the win.
“I think this game
getting to the net really worked for us,” said Vance. “We just had to keep
working hard.
“I think just the
hard work and driving to the net kind of made us win today.”
Jessica Vance (#30) celebrates her second shutout victory of the season. |
After playing four
times on the road, Vance was pleased to get her first start at home.
“I didn’t really
know what to expect I guess, because it is a smaller rink,” said Vance. “I
definitely like it.
“It is good to get
the first start at home and the first win too. It was a little bit of a tougher
game, because there wasn’t always shots coming.
“There were some
breaks. Everything just seemed to be going right. I felt the puck well.”
The Huskies return
to action on Friday, when they travel to Regina to face the U of Regina Cougars
(6-7-1).
Cooke on fire for Dogs in win over Cougars
Jordon Cooke had another stellar performance for the Huskies on Saturday. |
On Saturday at the
Flames Community Arena, Cooke made 32 saves and picked up an assist to back the
Huskies to a 4-1 victory over the Cougars. The win was the 52nd of
Cooke’s U Sports regular season career with the Huskies moving him to within
one victory of Ryan Holfeld for second on the Huskies all-time career list.
Holfeld won 53 career regular season games tending goal for the Huskies from
2010 to 2015.
Cooke’s performance
on Saturday allowed him to move into fourth all-time on the Huskies career list
for regular season saves. The 24-year-old from Leduc, Alta., has 2,045 career
regular season saves, which jumped him past the 2,017 career saves put up by
Tomas Vicars for fourth spot on the Huskies career list. Vicars played for the
U of S from 2002 to 2006.
The Cougars exited
the first period of Saturday’s clash with a 1-0 lead on a goal from rookie
forward Brad Kennedy.
The Huskies answered
back scoring four straight goals in the second period with singles coming from
the sticks of Carson Stadnyk, Collin Shirley, Levi Cable and Jesse Forsberg.
Fifth-year forward Josh Roach picked up a pair of assists, and Cooke recorded
his helper on Cable’s goal.
Cam Lanigan started in goal for the Cougars and turned away 14-of-18 shots fired his way. Wyatt Hoflin stopped all three shots set his way playing the third period in relief for Mount Royal.
Cam Lanigan started in goal for the Cougars and turned away 14-of-18 shots fired his way. Wyatt Hoflin stopped all three shots set his way playing the third period in relief for Mount Royal.
The Dogs have won
their last three in a row to improve to 11-2-1 to sit second in Canada West.
The Cougars fell to 6-7-1 to sit fifth in Canada West.
The Huskies return
to action on Friday, when they host the U of Regina Cougars (3-9-1-1) at 7 p.m.
at the Rutherford Rink.
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