Special mix pushed Huskies back into nationals

U of S women’s hockey team enjoyed a standout campaign

Jessica Vance, middle, enjoys a shutout win with the Huskies.

    Early on, it was apparent the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team might have something special going on in the 2017-18 season.

    During the first weekend of the pre-season last Sept. 8 and 9, the Huskies traveled to Athabasca, Alta., for a two-game series against the University of Alberta Pandas, who entered the campaign as the defending U Sports champions. The Huskies fell 3-2 after a tiebreaking shootout in the first contest and won the second outing 2-1.

    Those games provided an early sign that the Huskies wanted to get running right from the start. On a subjective level, it felt like they had a unity that was a step better than it had been the previous three campaigns. They seemed to have a great will to overcome any adversity that got in their way.

    The Huskies had 14 U Sports academic all-Canadians on their roster in 2016-17, and 11 of those player returned for this past season. To have that many academic all-Canadians on a hockey team roster is something that most teams don’t have.

Kaitlin Willoughby was an outstanding captain for the Huskies.

    The work ethic those players have in the classroom definitely transferred on to the ice. The rest of the team also shared that same drive in the classroom and on the ice even if the grades didn’t translate into a U Sports academic all-Canadian standing.

    As a result, the Huskies took off in 2017-18. Expected to finish around fourth or fifth in the Canada West standings like they had the three previous seasons, U of S didn’t crack into the U Sports Top 10 rankings until well into their playoff run.

    Outside expectations didn’t matter to those on the team’s inner circle, because the Huskies pushed through to finish second overall in the Canada West Conference with a 19-7-2 record. The 19 wins were a team record for the Huskies in the regular season.

    In the playoffs, they swept away the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a best-of-three Canada West semifinal series 2-0 at the ancient Rutherford Rink. The Thunderbirds had won the Canada West title in each of the previous two campaigns. The Huskies went 6-0 this season against the Thunderbirds.

    On top of advancing to the best-of-three Canada West championship series, the Huskies earned their third berth ever into the U Sports national championship tournament and first since 2014.

    U of S was swept out of the Canada West championship series 2-0 by the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, Man.

Kennedy Harris was stellar as a defensive forward for the Huskies.

    At the U Sports national championship tournament that wrapped up Sunday in London, Ont., U of S defeated the Saint Mary’s University Huskies 2-1 in a quarter-final game before dropping a 2-1 decision to the host University of Western Ontario Mustangs in the semifinal round and falling by a 4-0 score to the Concordia University Stingers in the bronze medal game.

    The Bisons would win the U Sports title game 2-0 against the Mustangs.

    Going into the season, the biggest question surround the Huskies was who would replace graduated veteran Cassidy Hendricks as the team’s starting goalie. Little did anyone know at the start, the 2017-18 campaign would become the season of Jessica Vance.

    The 20-year-old, who transferred over from the Bisons, made her debut for the Huskies last Nov. 10 in Vancouver, B.C. The Prince Albert, Sask., product made 33 stops to earn a 2-0 shutout victory over the Thunderbirds.

Kira Bannatyne was consistently steady on the back end for the Huskies.

    Vance didn’t look back posting a 14-3-1 record, a 0.77 goals against average, a .964 save percentage and nine shutouts. She topped the conference in most wins, best save percentage and most shutouts to be named the MVP of the Canada West conference and a first team U Sports all-Canadian.

    Her shutout total equaled former University of Alberta Pandas netminder Stacey McCullough for the second most shutouts ever recorded in the Canada West Conference in one U Sports regular season. McCullough posted nine shutouts in the 2000-01 campaign.

    Lindsey Post, who is another former Pandas netminder, holds the Canada West record for most shutouts in one U Sports regular season at 10 recorded in the 2014-15 campaign.

    Thanks to Vance’s efforts, the Huskies posted 12 total shutouts as a team in the campaign to equal a Canada West Conference team record for one season. Chloe Marshall had two shutouts and Jasey Book had one shutout for the U of S. The Pandas also posted 12 shutouts coming in the 2008-09 campaign.

Kori Herner provided an uplifting presence on and off the ice.

    In front of Vance, the Huskies deployed a strong group of defenders who were adept at shutting things down in their own zone. The regular starting six of Morgan Willoughby, Emma Nutter, Leah Bohlken, Kayla Kirwan, Kira Bannatyne and Ava Thiessen were as sound as any group you can find in the country.

    The “all in” togetherness the Huskies displayed has to be credited to the team’s leadership group in star captain Kaitlin Willoughby, who was a second team Canada West all-star and a tournament all-star at the U Sports nationals, and assistant captains Kennedy Harris and Brooklyn Haubrich. Willoughby was an outstanding captain, and she topped the Huskies in scoring for the third time in her five-year career posting nine goals and 10 assists in 26 regular season appearances this past season.

    She had an inspiring lead by example presence, and her graduation leaves a huge crater of a hole to be filled next season.

    Fifth-year speedy winger Kori Herner’s departure will also provide a big void, because she provided a big upbeat and uplifting presence on and off the ice. The Huskies will also have to replace the consistency Harris brought as a defensive forward and Bannatyne brought to the back end as both also completed their fifth seasons.

    The Huskies had a young forward group that got better as the season progressed. Sophomore winger Emily Upgang appeared in all 28 regular season games finishing second in team scoring with seven goals and seven assists. Haubrich, who is in her third year and known for being feisty, had one goal and nine assists for a career high 10 points.

Victory celebrations were common for the Huskies in 2017-18.

    Sophomore forward Bailee Bourassa and rookie forwards Chloe Smith and Abby Shirley have tonnes of potential to grow offensively. Elizabeth Salyn, who was in her third year, and Danielle Nogier, who was in her sophomore season, have cemented roles as defensive forwards.
    The coaching staff led by head coach Steve Kook did an admirable job ensuring the team was ready night in and night out.

    Everyone on the Huskies roster added to the special vibe that helped them return to the Canada West championship series and qualify for nationals both for a third time.

    For those that return to the team next season, their challenge will be to recreate that vibe going forward to keep giving the Huskies a chance at post-season success.

    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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Upbeat and personable Herner closes out time with Huskies

Kori Herner celebrates scoring a goal for the Huskies.

    Kori Herner admitted the finality of the fact her U Sports career is nearing an end has become more real to her.

    The fifth-year speedy winger for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team has taken in the 2017-18 campaign in similar fashion to her first four seasons with the team. 

    With the Huskies about to play their first game at the U Sports final eight national championship tournament in London, Ont., the Kindersley, Sask., product said things felt different knowing she has at most three games to play in her university career.

    “It actually just settled in (on Saturday) that these last couple of practices are my last practices ever,” said Herner. “It gives me more motivation to be the best I can be out there and finish my hockey career strong.”

Kori Herner (#10) wins a battle for the puck

    The Huskies, who are seeded seventh, face the second seeded Saint Mary’s University Huskies, who won the Atlantic University Sport conference title, in the first of two quarter-final games on Thursday. The tournament semifinal games are slated for Saturday and the bronze and gold medal games are set for Sunday. The tournament winner will capture the Golden Path Trophy.

    For Herner, it seems like yesterday she was a rookie helping the U of S Huskies win a Canada West title and a bronze medal at the U Sports nationals, which were held in Fredericton, N.B., in March of 2014.

    “We were watching the video of Can West on the bus,” said Herner, who stands 5-foot-5. “It literally seems like it was a couple of days ago that we were in that final.

    “It is just surreal how fast time actually goes like from being a rookie and hearing the fifth-years saying like just take it all in and enjoy every moment, because time does go by fast. It flies by.”

Kori Herner (#10) makes her way to the Rutherford Rink ice surface.

    The 22-year-old is one of four fifth-year players on the Huskies this season including star captain Kaitlin Willoughby, checking centre Kennedy Harris and defensive defender Kira Bannatyne. Herner has always been an uplifting presence in the Huskies dressing room and viewed as one of the squads most approachable players among her teammates.

    With that said, she added it was strange being one of the older players on the team this past season.

    “It is weird, because you always have those girls you look up to that are older than you, and now it like our time,” said Herner, who had five goals and five assists appearing in all of the Huskies 28 regular season games. “We are the ones being looked up to compared to the young girls on the team.”

Kori Herner zips into the offensive zone with the puck.

    The former captain of the Saskatoon Stars female midget AAA team was arguably the Huskies best player when it came to interacting with children and young fans. During summer breaks, Herner could usually be found coaching children in summer hockey activities or softball.

    “I’ve always coached kids and worked with kids, and that is what I am planning to do in the future is become a teacher,” said Herner. “I get along with them well and love to make them laugh and have fun with them.”

    Herner said she enjoyed working the Huskies summer hockey camps and goofing around with the kids and making them laugh. Some of those fun sessions included having kids drag on her arms as she skated around the rink.

Kori Herner is hugged by teammate Chloe Smith.

    Coaching has allowed Herner to be move involved in the life of her younger sister Jessie, who is a defender with the Prince Albert Northern Bears female midget AAA team. Kori has been involved coaching Jessie for about the last seven years in hockey and the last five years in softball.

    Jessie, who wears #10 like her older sister, turned 16-years-old in early January and has two more seasons of midget AAA eligibility to use.

    “She (Jessie Herner) wants to follow through and play with Huskies, so I think that is pretty cool,” said Kori. “Seeing her developing and coaching her, it is a lot different seeing her come up.

    “I think she can be a better hockey player than me.”

    Herner said it is an adjustment going from midget AAA to the university level. Playing two seasons for the Stars from 2011 to 2013, Herner appeared in 56 regular season games collecting 23 goals and 38 assists. In 125 regular season games with the Huskies, she netted 18 goals and 14 assists.

Kori Herner sets to make a pass in the offensive zone.

    “I guess I don’t have the puck luck like I used to like I’ve had with a couple of spurts here and there,” said Herner. “Goaltending is better.

    “The hockey girls are better. It is just harder hockey.”

    There have been times with the Huskies that Herner turned back the clock to her Stars days. In her final regular season home game on Feb. 3, she scored two beauty goals in a 3-2 victory over the University of Alberta Pandas. 
    On her second goal of that night, Herner blew down the left wing past a Pandas defender, cut to the front of the U of A goal and tuck home a shot between the legs of netminder Dayna Owen.

    Herner hopes to create some magical moments like that at nationals.

    “I hope I pot a couple of goals to get the team on top,” said Herner. “I just want to play my best, and hopefully, our team ends up winning.”

    She said it will be hard to hang of the skates for good as far as playing competitive hockey is concerned when nationals comes to an end.

    “(I will miss) the team aspect and being around the girls all the time,” said Herner. “I think it will be weird not coming to the rink every day.

    “(I will miss) a little bit of the competition wise with hockey. There is no more competitive hockey for me anymore.”

Kori Herner sets up to fire a shot on goal.

    At nationals, the Huskies will be led by Willoughby, who topped the team in scoring with nine goals and 10 assists in 26 regular season appearances. 
    Over her five seasons, the Prince Albert, Sask., product has cemented her legacy as one of the Huskies most dynamic players ever.

    Bannatyne and third-year defender Emma Nutter topped the Huskies blue-liners in scoring each netting two goals and four assists appearing in all of the squad’s 28 regular season games.

    Canada West player-of-the-year and first team all-Canadian all-star Jessica Vance was sensational in goal posting a 14-3-1 record, a 0.77 goals against average, a .964 save percentage and nine shutouts in 18 regular season appearances.

Kori Herner gets ready to drive a shot on goal.

    The Huskies finished second in the Canada West standings with a 19-7-2 record and were 2-2 in the Canada West playoffs.

    Fifth-year forward Breanna Lanceleve topped Saint Mary’s University in scoring recording 10 goals and 18 assists in 24 regular season games. 
    Fourth-year defender Hannah Askin led all Saint Mary’s University defenders in scoring with three goals and 13 assists in 23 regular season appearances.

    Rebecca Clark is expected to start in goal for Saint Mary’s University, and she posted a 14-3-1 record, a 1.15 goals against average, a .945 save percentage and six shutouts in 19 regular season appearances.

    Saint Mary’s University posted a 20-3-1 record during the regular season and a 4-1 mark in the AUS playoffs.

    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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Huskies will be outlaws in Canada West final

Host Bisons are the feel good story in Winnipeg

Huskies W Kori Herner (#10) breaks in on Bisons F Venla Hovi.

    It might be fitting that the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team will be wearing road black uniforms to start the Canada West finals, because they won’t be considered the good gals.

    When they arrive in Winnipeg, Man., for the best-of-three Canada West championship series, the Huskies will discover the host University of Manitoba Bisons are being trumpeted as the city’s feel good story. It is a deserved story angle considering the Bisons topped the Canada West regular season standings with a 22-5-1 record and are rated first in the U Sports Top 10 rankings.

    Including action in the regular season and playoffs, the Bisons have won 11 out of their last 12 games. They just came off winning an emotion best-of-three Canada West semifinal series, where sophomore forward Jordyn Zacharias scored the winning goal at the 13:30 mark of a fourth overtime period to give the Bisons a 1-0 win in a series deciding Game 3 last Sunday against the defending U Sports national champion University of Alberta Pandas.

    The Bisons players have been making the rounds among the media outlets in Winnipeg and working the social media lines to encourage people to come out to the Wayne Fleming Arena for the conference championship series.

Jordyn Zacharias led the Bisons in scoring.

    They are making their 10th appearance in the Canada West finals, but this will be the first time they play host to the series.

    Besides that fact, this will also mark the first time the Bisons and Huskies have gone head-to-head for the conference title.

    Game 1 of the series is set for Friday in Winnipeg, and Games 2 and 3 follow on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
    Both the Huskies and Bisons have berths lock up at the U Sports nationals, which run March 15 to 18 in London, Ont., and are hosted by the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.

    Odds are high the Huskies will encounter a NHL Winnipeg Jets style playoff crowd that will attempt to turn the Wayne Fleming Arena into a smaller version of Bell MTS Place.

    The feel good story for the local side in the Manitoba capital should sell, because the Bisons have a pretty likeable team. That should show through, when they appear on camera.

    As is fitting for a Winnipeg-based hockey squad, the Bisons have their own “Finnish Flash” in Venla Hovi. The fourth-year forward just returned from the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, having helped Finland’s women’s hockey team win a bronze medal.

    Due to national team commitments in her home country, Hovi was limited to playing 12 regular season games with the Bisons, but she tallied four goals and eight assists. Zacharias, who was a first-team Canada West all-star, topped the Bisons in scoring with 12 goals and nine assists appearing in all 28 of her team’s regular season games.

Goalie Lauren Taraschuk was the Canada West rookie-of-the-year.

    Fourth-year forward Alanna Sharman, who was a second-team Canada West all-star, was second in Bisons team scoring with three goals and 17 assists appearing in all 28 of her team’s regular season games.

    Fourth-year defender Erica Rieder was the Bisons power-play quarterback recording seven goals and four assists appearing in all 28 of her team’s regular season games while being named a first-team Canada West all-star. On top of her offensive production, Rieder was a plus-13 in the plus-minus department.

    Captain Caitlin Fyten, who is in her fifth and final season with the Bisons, is a calming influence on defence recording three goals, six assists and plus-seven rating in 25 regular season appearances.

    Netminder Lauren Taraschuk, who was named the rookie-of-the-year for Canada West, has taken over the starter’s role in goal for the Bisons in the post-season. She made 12 appearances in the regular season posting a 10-2 record, a 0.71 goals against average, a .961 save percentage and five shutouts.

    The Huskies are also having a memorable season. They finished second in Canada West with a 19-7-2 record and are rated eighth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings. The 19 wins marks a new team record for the Huskies for victories in one regular season.

    In the four head-to-head regular season meetings between the Bisons and Huskies, each side won twice.

Captain Kaitlin Willoughby (#17) led the Huskies in scoring.

    U of S equaled the Canada West record for most shutouts by a team in one regular season at 12 matching the mark accomplished by the Pandas in the 2008-09 campaign.

    Huskies sophomore netminder Jessica Vance was the Canada West MVP and a first-team Canada West all-star posting a 14-3-1 record, a 0.77 goals against average, a .964 save percentage and nine shutouts.

    She tied for the second most individual shutouts posted in one regular season in the history of the Canada West Conference equaling the nine put up by former Pandas netminder Stacey McCullough in the 2000-01 campaign. Former Pandas goalie Lindsey Post holds the Canada West record for most shutouts in one regular season at 10 set back in the 2014-15 campaign.

    Captain Kaitlin Willoughby was a second-team Canada West all-star, and she had another stellar season topping the Huskies in scoring with nine goals and 10 assists in 26 regular season appearances.

    Sophomore left-winger Emily Upgang finished second in Huskies team scoring netting seven goals and seven assists appearing in all 28 of her team’s regular season games.

    Fifth-year Winnipeg product Kira Bannatyne and third-year Cochrane, Alta., product Emma Nutter finished tied for scoring among Huskies defenders each posting two goals and four assists appearing in all 28 of the Huskies regular season games.

Goalie Jessica Vance was named the Canada West MVP.

    The Huskies enter the Canada West finals having swept the two-time defending Canada West champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a heated rivalry series.

    U of S has enough veterans on its roster that experience should help the Huskies deal with an excited crowd that will back the Bisons.

    The Bisons are trying to win their third Canada West title in team history. Their last victory came back in 2011.

    The Huskies are trying to capture their second Canada West title in team history with their first win coming in 2014.

    The Herd will be favoured in this series, but the Huskies are capable of spoiling the championship hopes of the host side. The ingredients are there to possibly make this Canada West championship series a classic.

    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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Huskies send Thunderbirds packing in intense rivalry clash

Chloe Smith is mobbed by her linemates after scoring the series winning goal for the Huskies.

    It was a game that possibly foreshadowed a passing of the torch.

    In an intense rivalry clash against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, the leader of today and maybe the leader of the future gave the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team an emotional and hard fought victory at the ancient Rutherford Rink on Saturday afternoon.

    Captain Kaitlin Willoughby and rookie centre Chloe Smith delivered clutch second period goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and deliver the Huskies to a 2-1 victory in Game 2 of a Canada West semifinal series.

Kaitlin Willoughby had a big power-play goal.

    With the win, the Huskies sweep the best-of-three set 2-0. They advance to the best-of-three Canada West Championship series to play the winner of the other conference semifinal between the host University of Manitoba Bisons and the defending U Sports national champion University of Alberta Pandas. The Pandas lead that best-of-three series 1-0 going into play today.
    Between the regular season and playoffs, the Huskies won all six head-to-head meetings with the Thunderbirds.

    The Huskies also earn a berth into the U Sports national championship tournament to be held March 15 to 18 hosted by the University of Western Ontario Mustangs in London, Ont.

    “It feels pretty good,” said Smith. “Words can’t do it justice right now.

    “I think we are all pretty excited. We got in the spot that we wanted to be this year in second place. We battled through and finished off UBC, so I think everyone is pretty excited right now.”

    The Huskies victory over the Thunderbirds on Saturday was similar to a rivalry game from the Western Hockey League in the 1980s. There were all sorts of battles all over the ice, big hits, beaks and dives from the visitors.

    “We actually talked a bit before the game about our mental attitude,” said Willoughby about dealing with the intensity of the rivalry. “We have to stay positive.

    “Every so often we just have to check our emotions on the bench and say, “How are we feeling right now?” We have to make sure that we are staying positive, because when you think positive, I’m a believer that positive things will happen.

Saturday’s clash between the Huskies and Thunderbirds had a few hits.

    “That was our saying constantly. We just had to help each other out. From the beginning, we did that, and that is how we got through today. It was a battle out there. That was probably one of the hardest hockey games I’ve ever playing in my life.”

    Despite all the extra-curricular activities, the Thunderbirds, who won the last two straight Canada West titles, came out flying in the opening 15 minutes of the first period. At the 10:38 mark of the opening frame, Thunderbirds fifth-year defender Alexa Ranahan scored with a point shot through a screen to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

    With 8:33 to play in the first, the Thunderbirds held an 8-3 edge in shots on goal. The Huskies started to build momentum near the end of the frame working on a four-minute power play due to the fact Thunderbirds fifth-year left-winger Kathleen Cahoon received a double minor for butt ending a U of S player with her stick.

Jessica Vance made 27 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies.

    The Huskies didn’t score on that power play but held and 11-9 edge in shots on goal after the frame.

    Smith said the Huskies coaches settled things down in the first period.

    “I think everyone just had a lot of nerves,” said Smith. “We were up one game.

    “UBC was kind of getting under our skin a little bit. Our coaches came in and told the girls look, just calm down and play our game. We know how to play and that is what we did, so that is what changed for the second period and the third.”

    In the second, Willoughby and Smith delivered their heroic moments.

    At the 11:20 mark of the second, Willoughby one-timed a power-play goal from the left wing boards past Thunderbirds netminder Amelia Boughn to make the crowd at the Rutherford erupt. The Prince Albert, Sask., product’s goal tied things up at 1-1.

Emma Nutter had a big third period hit for the Huskies.

    Just over three minutes later, Smith drove into the offensive zone and blew home what would turn out to be the winning goal to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.

    In the final seconds of the second, Huskies netminder Jessica Vance robbed Thunderbirds right-winger Cassandra Vilgrain to preserve the one-goal edge for the host side.

    “That first period was not a good period for us hockey wise and mental wise,” said Huskies head coach Steve Kook. “They pulled it together.

    “We have a heck of leadership group over there. Whatever they said and whatever they found within themselves to calm down or just play hockey, that is the female game.

    “You can get wrapped up in a whole bunch of stuff, but if you take care of the puck, then things generally work out, and that is what we did.”

    The intensity hit big heights in the third, but Vance held the fort making 27 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies. Fourth-year netminder Amelia Boughn turned away 25 shots to take the setback in goal for the Thunderbirds.

A scrum breaks out at the end of the game in front of the Huskies goal.

    The physical play kept up as Thunderbirds fourth-year centre Logan Boyd hit Huskies fifth-year defender Kira Bannatyne early in the third, and Huskies physical third-year defender Emma Nutter wiped out Cahoon near the midway point of the frame.

    As the clock ticked to zero, a huge scrum developed in front of the Huskies goal, which included Willoughby exchanging words with Thunderbirds centre Mathea Fischer.

    Smith said the Huskies received huge leadership from their captain.

    “Kaitlin (Willoughby) has been leading our team all season long,” said Smith. “She is an unreal captain.

    “She is hands down unreal on the ice. She always creates plays and helps out our team. On and off the ice, she is always a voice in the dressing room and gets our spirits up.

The Huskies alums cheer on the current Huskies.

    “She is a fantastic captain, and it is nice to have her on our side.”

    Willoughby was happy to see Smith net the game winner.

    “It was awesome,” said Willoughby. “I love seeing girls like that score.

    “Everyone is a great contribution to our team, and they are the reasons that we are here. Chloe (Smith), she has had lot of chances in the games, and I was so glad that she could capitalize on that tonight.”

    Willoughby is one of four players remaining on the Huskies that was part of the Canada West championship winning team from the 2013-14 campaign that also won a bronze medal at U Sports nationals.

The Huskies celebrate their series sweep over the Thunderbirds.

    The others include Bannatyne, who had a number of shot blocks and broke up a few scoring chances on Saturday, and checking centre Kennedy Harris and speedy right-winger Kori Herner.

    The Huskies captain is looking forward to what is ahead.

    “It feels amazing,” said Willoughby. “I think it feels even better than the first time.

    “I’m so excited. Emotions are high right now, but it is all settling in, and I couldn’t be happier right now.”

    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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Puck luck finally falling in favour of Huskies’ Haubrich

U of S grinds out victory in Canada West semifinal opener

Brooklyn Haubrich scored win winning goal for the Huskies.

    Brooklyn Haubrich slammed a gorilla off her back.

    The third-year feisty centre with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team is finally having some luck around the net after going through a goal drought of just over two years in length. On Friday afternoon at the ancient Rutherford Rink, Haubrich completed a tick-tack-toe passing play from linemates Emily Upgang and captain Kaitlin Willoughby to score for the Huskies.

    Haubrich’s goal put the Huskies up 1-0 with 6:24 to play in the first period in Game 1 of a Canada West semifinal series against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

    Willoughby centred a pass from behind the UBC net perfect to Haubrich in front of the goal, and she wasted no time in burying her tally. The Hodgeville, Sask., product’s marker held up as the winner as the Huskies blanked the Thunderbirds, who have won the last two Canada West titles, 2-0.

The Huskies celebrate Brooklyn Haubrich’s first period goal.

    “Honestly, I feel like I’m having good contact with the puck,” said Haubrich. “Obviously, that shot was a shot I just didn’t even thing.

    “I just tried to bury it, and I did. I feel good. I feel like I can put pucks to the net.

    “It is a good feeling going into playoffs.”

    With the win, the Huskies lead the best-of-three series 1-0. They will look to close out the set in Game 2 on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Rutherford.

    Between the regular season and playoffs, the Huskies have won all five head-to-head encounters with the Thunderbirds in 2017-18.

Huskies C Brooklyn Haubrich rubs a UBC player off in the boards.

    Haubrich’s only regular season goal in the 2017-18 U Sports campaign came on February 10, when she scored into an empty net to cap a 3-0 victory over the Mount Royal University Cougars in Calgary. That contest was the Huskies last game before playoffs.

    Before that goal against the Cougars, Haubrich’s previous tally came in her rookie season with the Huskies, when she scored in a 3-1 win on January 29, 2016 against the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg.

    In her rookie campaign in 2015-16, Haubrich appeared in all 28 of the Huskies regular season games recording four goals and three assists. Last season, she was limited to 18 regular season games due to battling a concussion injury around midseason. She had three assists in that campaign playing on a checking line.

Captain Kaitlin Willoughby drives a shot on goal for the Huskies.

    This season, Haubrich has centred the Huskies top line with Upgang and Willoughby. The high-energy forward, who stands 5-foot-4, appeared in all of the Huskies 28 regular season games recording one goal, nine assists and a plus-13 rating in the plus-minus category.

    While she didn’t find the back of the net until the last regular season game, Haubrich said Upgang and Willoughby were always behind her no matter what happened.

    “It got a little frustrating, when they would set me up point blank, and I couldn’t bury for them,” said Haubrich. “They’ve been so good this year, and they’ve been kind of carrying me along for the ride I guess you could say.

Emily Upgang picked up an assist in the Huskies win on Friday.

    “They are so skilled. My goal was all kudos to them. They did all the work for it.

    “They’ve been awesome. I can’t be happier to play with anyone else.”

    Huskies head coach Steve Kook was pleased to see Haubrich come through on the scoreboard and believed his snakebitten by extremely hard-working centre would find the back of the net. Kook was happy to see Haubrich score against the Thunderbirds on Friday.

    “She (Haubrich) was in the right spot at the right time,” said Kook. “We talked about being in the right spot and arriving on time.

    “If being on time and doing things right is feisty, then that is good. We don’t know when she is going to pot the goal, but she generates a whole lot of chances for us.”

Kira Bannatyne (#20) lets out a yell after scoring for the Huskies.

    In the win over the Thunderbirds, the Huskies had one of their best performances of the season. Just past the halfway point of the third period, they received a key insurance marker form fifth-year defender Kira Bannatyne.

    Taking the puck from left-winger Bailee Bourassa, Bannatyne went coast-to-coast and beat Thunderbirds sophomore netminder Tory Micklash with a smart mid height shot blocker side.

Micklash made 30 saves to give the Thunderbirds a chance to win the game.

    Star sophomore netminder Jessica Vance, who is a first team Canada West all-star, turned away 22 shots to pick up the shutout in goal for the Huskies in her first career U Sports post-season start.

    The Thunderbirds had their chances to score. Early in the second period, fourth year left-winger Emily Costales rang a shot off the post.

Netminder Jessica Vance made 22 saves to pick up a shutout for the Huskies.

    Late in the third period, the Thunderbirds pulled Micklash while working on a power play in a push to try and tie the game.

    While Vance had a strong game, she had help from her defence. Third-year defender Morgan Willoughby had a couple of key shot blocks in the third and she broke up another potential scoring chance in the third in front of the Huskies goal.

    Kook was pleased with his side’s overall performance.

    “I thought for the first 10 minutes we were pretty good at handling what they were chucking at us,” said Kook. “They came at us full force there.

    “We knew that the first 10 minutes was going to be a little bit of a whirlwind. I thought we handled that pretty good. We calmed down and started to play our game a little bit.

The Huskies celebrate their Game 1 victory over the Thunderbirds.

    “The last five minutes for us was outstanding. We just played with a lot of composure. I think that was the difference maker for us.”

    Haubrich said her team will face a big challenge in trying to eliminate the Thunderbirds, who are rated fifth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, from the post-season on Saturday.

    “We know this team is going to come out flying, and I think we have to be able to match their level,” said Haubrich, who is a former captain of the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats female midget AAA team. “Hopefully, we can come out on top and beat them in two.”

    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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Huskies ice skid with 4-2 win, clinch playoff bye

Huskies goalie Jordon Cooke (#32) holds off a third period Cougars push.

    Captain Kendall McFaull admitted his University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team was feeling some urgency to get a win.

    Entering play on Friday, the Huskies entered their U Sports regular season clash with the Mount Royal University Cougars having lost four straight games, which all happened to come on the road. In university hockey in the Canada West Conference, that type of skid can seem like an eternity, because teams play two regular season games every weekend.

    The Huskies had gone 19 days without experiencing a win with their last victory coming on Jan. 20, when they blanked the University of Calgary Dinos 2-0 at the ancient Rutherford Rink.

    Against the Cougars on Friday at Rutherford, the Dogs built a 3-1 lead early in the third period, but they seemed to be just trying to hang on at times after the Cougars closed to within 3-2.

The Huskies celebrate a goal from Alex Forsberg, centre.

    Inside of the final two minutes of the third, Huskies star goaltender Jordon Cooke held the fort during a couple of dicey net scramble situations. Standout winger Josh Roach sealed the issue scoring into an empty net with 15 seconds to play in the third to deliver the Huskies to a 4-2 victory.

    The win allowed the Huskies, who are rated fifth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, to improve to 19-7-1 and clinch second place in the Canada West Conference and earn a bye in the playoffs to host a best-of-three conference semifinal series.

    “It was huge,” said McFaull, who is in his fifth and final season with the Huskies. “Obviously, I don’t remember the last time we lost four in a row.

Josh Roach scored twice for the Huskies.

    “We knew we wanted to clinch a bye, and we knew we needed to do it tonight. I think the guys came out pretty hard, and I was pretty impressed with the effort.”

    The Huskies came firing out of the gate outshooting the Cougars 20-7 in the opening period. The teams exited the frame locked in a 0-0 tie due to the stellar play of Cougars fifth-year goalie Cam Lanigan.

    Lanigan made a number of key saves including stopping Huskies star offensive defenceman Jesse Forsberg and turning away first year winger Collin Shirley on in close chances.

    Just 17 seconds into the second period, the Huskies broke through on the scoreboard, when first-year left-winger Alex Forsberg fired home a laser shot to the top right corner of the Cougars goal to give the hosts a 1-0 edge.

    During their four-game skid, the Huskies scored a total of four goals, and McFaull said it was important to get that first tally.

    “Honestly, we didn’t put a full 60 together on the road ever it seemed,” said McFaull. “We had spurts of where we were playing well.

Cam Lanigan made 34 stops playing goal for the Cougars.

    “We also had some breakdowns. We also weren’t getting the puck luck. I think that (puck luck) is kind of what we saw tonight with that first goal.

    “That was huge for us to have that go in, and that wasn’t happening before.”

    Right-winger Levi Cable helped push the Huskies lead out to 2-0 scoring on a turnaround shot at the 10:29 mark of the second.

    With eight minutes to play in the second, winger Jamal Watson got the Cougars on the board scoring in close to cut the Huskies edge to 2-1.

    The Huskies seemed to grab firm control of the contest, when Roach wired home his first goal of the contest short-handed to the top right corner of the Cougars net to give the hosts a 3-1 edge at the 3:41 mark of the third.

Kendall McFaull settings things down in the defensive zone.

    Watson netted his second of the game before the midway point of the third to trim the Huskies lead to 3-2. That created a number of anxious moments down the stretch until Roach sealed the game with his empty netter. Roach had an assist to go along with his two goals for a three-point night.

    “When you haven’t won in a while, everybody definitely kind of gets a little tight towards the end of the game,” said McFaull, who had an assist on the empty-net goal. “When we are on a bit of winning streak, that doesn’t usually happen.

    “We found a way to win, and I think we were happy with it.”

    Cooke turned away 25 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Huskies. The win was the 59^th of Cooke’s regular season career with the Huskies and moves him to within one victory of equalling Jeff Harvey for the team career regular season wins record of 60. Harvey collected his 60 career regular season wins playing goal for the Huskies from 2005 to 2010.

    Lanigan stopped 34 of 37 shots to take the setback in goal for the Cougars. The Cougars, who have already clinched a playoff berth, fell to 12-13-2 to sit fifth in Canada West standings.

The Huskies celebrate their win on Friday night.

    The Huskies and Cougars close their respective regular season schedules playing each other again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rutherford. The University of Alberta Golden Bears, who are rated first in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, already have first in Canada West locked up with a 23-3-1 record.

    While the Huskies can’t finish first in Canada West, McFaull said it was still big to earn a bye in the post-season and avoid playing a best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series.

    “That is huge,” said McFaull. “Anytime you get guys rested up after the season and kind of have that extra week to prepare for playoffs, it is pretty big.”

    NOTE – Before Friday’s game, a moment of silence was held to remember legendary University of Saskatchewan Huskies Track and Field head coach Lyle Sanderson, who passed away on Thursday at age 79.

Bannatyne ensures Huskies stay alive in chase for bye

Kira Bannatyne scored a pivotal power-play goal for the Huskies.

    Kira Bannatyne’s first career U Sports power-play goal might be the biggest tally of her post-secondary career.

    On Friday night at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary, the fifth-year defender for the U of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team slid home a shot five-hole on Mount Royal University Cougars netminder Zoe De Beauville at the 10:19 mark of the third period. Bannatyne’s power-play goal held up as the different to deliver the Huskies to a 1-0 victory in the U Sports regular season clash.

    Netminder Jessica Vance made 15 saves to earn her eighth shutout of the season playing goal for the Huskies. Vance has tied former U of Alberta Pandas netminder Lindsey Post for the third most shutouts ever recorded in one Canada West regular season.

    Post had eight shutouts in the 2015-16 campaign, and she also holds the Canada West record of most shutouts recorded in one regular season at 10 collected in the 2014-15 campaign.

    De Beauville turned away 25 shots to take the setback in goal for the Cougars.

    With the win, the Huskies improved to 18-7-2 to sit in a tie for second place in the Canada West Conference standings with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (19-5-3) with 55 points. In the Canada West women’s hockey standings, teams earn three points for regulation wins, two points for extra time wins and one point for extra time losses.

    The Huskies recorded their 55 points from 17 regulation wins, one extra time win and two extra time setbacks. The Thunderbirds, who are rated fifth in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, collected their 55 points from 14 regulation wins, five extra time wins and three extra time setbacks.

    The Thunderbirds downed the U of Alberta Pandas 3-2 in overtime on Friday night in Edmonton.

    The Pandas saw their record move to 18-5-4, and they sit two points back of both the Huskies and the Thunderbirds with 53 points in the standings. The Pandas, who are rated second in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, posted their 53 points on 13 regulation wins, five extra time wins and four extra time setbacks.

    The Thunderbirds and Pandas close their respective regulation season schedules playing each other once more on Saturday in Edmonton.

    The University of Manitoba Bisons, who are rated first in the U Sports Top 10 rankings, dumped the U of Calgary Dinos 6-0 in Winnipeg on Friday night to improve to 21-5-1 and clinch first place in the Canada West standings.

    The top two teams in Canada West earn byes to host best-of-three conference semifinal playoff series.

    The Cougars fell to 10-16-1 to remain sixth in Canada West. They need to earn one more point in the standings to lock up a playoff berth.

    The Huskies and Cougars close their respective regular season schedules playing each other on Saturday in Calgary.

Wheat Kings surge past Blades

Dawson Davidson scored for the Blades on Friday night.

    A five goal surge pushed the Brandon Wheat Kings past the visiting Saskatoon Blades.

    On Friday night in Brandon, the Blades took a 3-1 lead shortly after the midway point of the second period only to see the host Wheat Kings storm back with five answered goals to pull out a 6-3 WHL regular season victory before 4,210 spectators at Westman Place.

    Cole Reinhardt scored his first of two goals on the night at the 3:11 mark of the first period to give the Wheat Kings a 1-0 lead.

    Right-winger Max Gerlach scored for the Blades to tie things up at 1-1 heading into the first intermission. Bradly Goethals and Dawson Davidson netted singles for Saskatoon in the second period to give the Blades a 3-1 lead.

    With 3:44 to play in the second, Luka Burzan scored for the Wheat Kings to cut the Blades edge to 3-2. Wheat Kings overage defenceman James Shearer netted his first of the season at the 2:38 mark of the third to force a 3-3 tie.

    Reinhardt’s second tally of the contest gave the Wheat Kings a 4-3 lead with 6:08 to play in the third period. Chase Hartje and Evan Weinger sealed the victory for the host side scoring empty-net goals late in the third.

    Overage netminder Tyler Brown turned away 19-of-23 shots to take the setback in goal for the Blades. Overage goalie Logan Thompson stopped 33 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wheat Kings.

    The Blades fell to 26-26-2-1 to sit percentage points behind the Prince Albert Raiders (22-21-9-2) for the second wildcard spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Both teams have 55 points in the standings, but the Raiders have a game in hand on the Blades.

    The Wheat Kings improve to 30-19-3-2 to remain third in the WHL’s East Division.

    The Blades return to action on Saturday, when they host the Raiders at 7 p.m. at the SaskTel Centre. Saskatoon will be celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the opening of the SaskTel Centre that night and two game tickets will cost $30. A total of 30 bonus prizes will be given out during the contest and Murray Howe, who is one of the sons of late hockey icon Gordie Howe, will be on hand to sign his recently released book.

    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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