Dogs dump Thunderbirds 4-1 in regular season
opener
 |
| Jordan Fransoo starts a rush up ice for the Huskies. |
Matt Hewitt couldn’t hold off the University of Saskatchewan
Huskies forever.
The fourth-year goaltender from the University of British
Columbia Thunderbirds men’s hockey team looked poised to steal the regular
season opening game between the two squads on Friday night at the ancient
Rutherford Rink. Hewitt was standing on his head turning away the various waves
of pressure applied by the Huskies, but his armour finally cracked.
With 4:01 to play in the second period, third-year defenceman
Jordan Fransoo snuck home a point shot to put the Huskies up 1-0. The tally came
on the Huskies sixth power-play opportunity and proved to be a just reward for
all the chances the hosts were creating.
At the 2:15 mark of the third period, the Huskies offence
continued to roll when centre Logan McVeigh slipped home his first of the
season. Just over four minutes later while working on another power play, McVeigh
picked up his second goal of the game tapping home a loose puck in the crease
of the UBC net to put the Dogs up 3-0.
 |
| The Huskies crash in on Thunderbirds goaltender Matt Hewitt. |
The Huskies locked things down defensively, and Michael
Sofillas potted an empty net goal to cement a 4-1 victory.
U of S enters the current campaign as defending Canada West
champions, and for the first time out, the Huskies had to be satisfied with
their effort. Hewitt turned away 33 of 36 shots to allow the Thunderbirds to
stay in a contest, where they spent numerous stretches getting pinned in their
own zone.
Jordon Cooke, who was named the most outstanding goaltender
for Canadian Interuniversity Sport last season, turned away 18 shots to steady
the Huskies in their own end.
U of S also has a lineup that features nine first-year
players, which included a good looking forward line made up of Carson Stadnyk,
Wyatt Johnson and Connor Gay. The recruiting class was filled with individuals
who had outstanding careers in the Western Hockey League, which was one of the
reasons the Dogs topped the Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll.
With a huge influx of new players, one had to wonder how
quickly it would take this new group to jell.
Early on, it’s apparent the chemistry is coming. The Huskies
rolled four forward lines that came at the Thunderbirds with speed. In all
reality, the home side likely deserved to be rewarded with a few more goals.
 |
| Veternan D Connor Cox had two assists for the Huskies. |
That power-play chance came just over four minutes in the
second period, when the contest was still tied 0-0. On that kill, the Huskies
never let UBC really get set offensively, and the visitors were constantly sent
back into their own zone after the Dogs cleared the puck down the ice.
While the Huskies turned heads with the newcomers they
brought in, the returnees accounted for all the offence, which included two
assist nights coming from fourth-year defenceman Connor Cox and fourth-year
winger Josh Roach.
The Huskies and Thunderbirds will go at it again on Saturday
at 7 p.m. at the Rutherford Rink. With the way the Huskies looked and
considering the potential they could reach, a ticket buyer will never go wrong
in making a trip to the U of S campus to see this group in action.
Vilgrain too much for Huskies women’s team
to handle
 |
| Cassidy Hendricks made 19 stops in the Huskies setback to the Thunderbirds. |
Calgary product Cassandra Vilgrain transferred to the
Thunderbirds from the University of New Hampshire Wildcats of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association and potted a goal and two assists to lead her
new team to a 4-0 regular season opening victory over the U of S. Vilgrain is
in her fourth year of eligibility, and she gives the Thunderbirds, who enter
the season as defending Canada West champs, an added dimension offensively.
Nicole Saxvik, Alexa Ranahan and Madison Patrick, who is the
older sister of Brandon Wheat Kings star and high first round NHL draft
prospect Nolan Patrick, all picked up singles for the Thunderbirds. Amelia
Boughn made 17 stops to earn the shutout in the UBC goal.
Fifth-year veteran Cassidy Hendricks turned away 19 shots
taking the loss in goal for the Huskies.
U of S held a 9-4 edge in shots on goal after the first
period before momentum swung in the Thunderbirds favour, when Saxvik opened the
game’s scoring 3:51 into the second period.
The two teams go at it again on Saturday in Vancouver.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
