University of Saskatchewan Huskies forward Kelsey Hall (left) and Kate Ball (right) try to beat University of Regina Cougars goaltender Arden Kliewer in Canada West action on Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon. (Katie Brickman-Young/HuskieFAN) 

By Katie Brickman-Young

Men’s and women’s teams looks for wins in rematch

Huskies hockey teams dropped by Cougars

Jan 14, 2022 | 10:36 PM

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s and women’s hockey teams struggled in their first games back from the break, getting dropped by provincial rivals University of Regina Cougars.

The Huskies women’s hockey team struggled against the Cougars, who were down 12 skaters. Regina came from behind to secure a 4-1 victory over the Huskies on Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon.

“I didn’t see many positives. I thought for five minutes in the second period, we had them on the ropes and then we let them off the ropes,” said Steve Kook, head coach of the Huskies women’s team. “We had a really bad transition from practice to game right now. What we practiced all week, we didn’t see a lot in the game.”

Meg Dyer scored her first in the green and white midway through the second period and that’s all the Huskies could muster against goaltender Arden Kliewer, who saved 34 shots in the victory for the Cougars.

The Cougars’ Lauren Focht scored her fourth of the season three minutes after Dyer’s goal and the teams were tied heading into the final frame.

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Lilla Carpenter-Boesch scored short-handed for the Cougars in the third period and Olivia Legget scored on the power play to add to their lead. Jordyn Blais would score another short-handed empty-net goal to seal with win for the Cougars late in the third period.

The power play was an area of focus for the Huskies during the break, but struggled again on Friday night, going 0-for-6 on the advantage. It was an area of concern for Kook as well seeing his players not recreate what they worked on in practice.

“We worked a lot on the power play over the break with everybody because you don’t know who is going to be in the lineup each game,” said Kook. “We had some different looks with some different bodies on the power play, but we really did do anything that we worked on in practice. That was the gist of the game.”

Whether it was the 40-plus day break in between games or the lack of fans in the stands for the game, the Huskies appeared to struggle out of the gate in this game and couldn’t build their own intensity.

“I think the different environment with no fans affected them a little bit. I felt a bit like a scrimmage out there, but at the same time, we have eight games left,” said Kook. “They are varsity athletes, and they are here for a reason. Many of these people have moved away from home … you have to find a way to be an athlete and be here for a reason.”

The Huskies will look to get back into the win column with the rematch against the Cougars in Regina on Saturday night. Fans are also not allowed in the Co-operators Arena due to COVID-19 precautions, but game action will be live on the HuskieFAN app and huskiefan.ca.

“We need to move forward, but not forget about this. It sucks losing, but you have to remember what it felt like and bring that with you the next game. Clear mind, but always have that in the back of you head,” said Huskies forward Kelsey Hall. “We took notes on what we could do better today and cleaning up on those things. I am confident in this group that we will be OK.”

Huskies men’s hockey fall to Cougars

In Regina, the men’s team also fell to the Cougars in Canada West action.

The Huskies were up 3-1, but the Cougars scored six straight unanswered goals to win 7-4 on Friday night in the Queen City.

“Bottom line is I just felt they worked harder than we did. Whether we didn’t take them seriously, or whatever the reason,” said Mike Babcock, head coach of the Huskies men’s team. “A disappointing night for us, and a little reality check.”

Randen Schmidt scored his first of the season for the Cougars at 6:13 on the first period. Vince Loschiavo scored less than a minute later on the power play to tie the game up. Chanz Petruic scored his fourth on the season midway through the opening frame to give the Huskies the lead.

Alec Zawatsky notched his first of the season in a Huskies jersey early in the second frame, but then the Huskies fell apart at the hands of the Cougars.

Turner Ripplinger, Bryce Platt and Brennan Riddle scored in the second period to give the Cougars a one-goal lead.

The Cougars didn’t stop, scoring three more goals in the third period. Brady Pouteau and Austin King-Cunningham both got their firsts as Cougars and Tyler Heidt added a power play marker midway through the final frame.

Connor Hobbs scored the Huskies fourth goal in the third period, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Jordan Kooy, a new recruit for the Huskies from Ontario over the break got his debut against the Cougars, making 18 saves in almost 50 minutes of action. Travis Child came in as relief for the Huskies in the third period.

Babcock didn’t think his team helped Kooy “one bit,” and simply didn’t compete at a high enough level.

“In the end, we weren’t willing to play hard enough, or do things right enough,” Babcock said.

Babcock was quick to deflect the idea the team was rusty from a long holiday break, as the Cougars also had the same amount of time off.

The Huskies will look to rebound against the Cougars in a rematch at home at Merlis Belsher Place on Saturday night. There will be no fans for the stands, as per COVID-19 precautions, but the game will be broadcast live on the HuskieFAN app or at huskiefan.ca

As for who gets the start in net for the Huskies men at home Saturday, Babcock said the coaching staff will watch the video on the bus and make a decision.

-with files from Wray Morrison and Daniella Ponticelli