The University of Huskies give an on-ice salute following the women's first postseason loss to the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver on March 12, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

By Daniella Ponticelli

First postseason loss for Sask.

Huskies shutout in Game 1 of Canada West final

Mar 12, 2022 | 12:49 AM

Huskies women’s hockey faced a big test of postseason adversity in Vancouver Friday night.

The fifth-seed University of Saskatchewan struggled to get going offensively and fell 4-0, their first loss of the postseason, to second-seed UBC Thunderbirds at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre.

Saskatchewan has scored first in all four playoff games to get them to this weekend’s Canada West final against British Columbia.

However, UBC came out strong Friday in the first period with aggressive play and forechecking, scoring three goals in less than 20 minutes.

“We just didn’t start on time,” said Huskies head coach Steve Kook after the loss.

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“You get down a couple early and you have to find a way to climb back out. You start chasing and that’s when you see the backs of their jerseys and that’s not something you ever want.”

Huskies’ starting netminder Camryn Drever faced an onslaught of shots through 60 minutes, finishing the night with 39 saves.

Her counterpart in the UBC net, Elise Hugens, stayed perfect with 13 saves.

The T-Birds opened scoring 4:32 into the first with a goal in transition from the right circle by Grace Elliott, her third of the postseason.

Elliott was helped by Chanreet Bassi, her second assist of the playoffs, and Saskatoon product Hannah Koroll.

The Thunderbirds added a second at 12:55 scored by Mia Bierd, her first career U Sports goal, assisted by Jenna Fletcher and Sierra Laplante.

In the final minute of the opening frame — with 33.3 seconds left — UBC made it three with Ashley McFadden’s third goal of the playoffs. Fletcher notched her second assist of the night, off a pass from Ireland Perrott.

“End of the day, we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow. When you don’t play your best, you want to get back at it,” — Steve Kook, Huskies head coach

The Huskies came out stronger in the second period, securing a power play opportunity at the seven-minute mark off a bodychecking penalty by UBC’s Rylind McKinnon.

However, it wasn’t long before a turnover by the T-Birds lead to a short-handed goal on the left side by Shay-lee McConnell, also her third goal of the playoffs.

T-Birds’ Kenzie Robinson and Laplante assisted on that fourth and final goal of the night.

Saskatchewan finished 0-for-2 on the power play, and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

The Huskies have one more game to make it count, and extend the championship series to a Game 3 Sunday afternoon.

“End of the day, we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow. When you don’t play your best, you want to get back at it,” said Kook.

Game 2 Saturday goes 7 p.m. local time, 9 p.m. in Saskatchewan.

If needed, Game 3 is a Sunday matinee showdown at 2 p.m. local, 3 p.m. CST as daylight saving time takes effect.

Listen to all Huskies women’s hockey broadcasts live and archived on the HuskieFAN app and at huskiefan.ca.