Huskies players embracing first U Sports championship experience

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The Ponteix, Sask. product is far from the only University of Saskatchewan women’s hockey player taking in the travel and elevated play of the U Sports postseason.

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Kendall is one of 13 rookies who started with the Huskies in 2021-22. Aside from fifth-year Bailee Bourassa and fourth-year Abbey Shirley, everyone on the team is experiencing nationals for the first time.

“The past couple days have been so packed, and we’re just trying to soak everything in and stay focused,” said Kendall, whose mom and sister will be among the Saskatchewan fans in PEI.

While Huskies defender Meg Dyer is in her third-year of U Sports eligibility, she had never played in a Canada West postseason with her former University of Lethbridge team.

“We can outwork anyone and that’s what’s gotten us here. It doesn’t matter age, size, skill. You can do anything as long as you put your mind to it,” – Meg Dyer, Huskies third-year defender

The Alberta university folded both its women’s and men’s hockey programs in May 2020.

The sudden decision led Meg and younger sister Mallory, who was committed to Lethbridge, to Saskatchewan and a big rebound after a COVID year without competition.

“To win those two Canada West series, to make it to nationals and to be here with my sister, it’s pretty incredible,” said Meg, whose parents are also travelling to the east coast for the tournament.

“I’m also grateful. What happened in Lethbridge is very upsetting, to have our team get cut, but to be here with the Huskies is phenomenal. It’s such an opportunity.”

Huskies first-year goaltender Colby Wilson faces shots on net during the team’s first practice at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown, PEI on March 22, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

Meg told HuskieFAN her biggest take away for the season, overall, has been the team’s growing confidence and belief in itself.

“That’s been something that has gotten us this far, because I think it’s a big surprise to a lot of people that we are here in the first place,” she said.

“We can outwork anyone and that’s what’s gotten us here. It doesn’t matter age, size, skill. You can do anything as long as you put your mind to it.”

Meg and teammate Isabella Pozzi are the only two Huskies defenders with U Sports experience prior to the 2021-22 season.

Pozzi has been with Saskatchewan since 2018-19, the year after the program’s most recent nationals experience.

“Nationals is always the end goal. So to be here now is great, and I just can’t wait to start playing,” said Pozzi.

The Calgary product added that after the team’s sweep over the higher-seeded University of Manitoba in the Canada West quarter-final, the rookie backend has stepped up their compete.

Among those young players is Pozzi’s defensive partner, Kendra Zuchotzki.

The duo found their groove in the second half of the regular season, as did the team overall, and has started every game of the 2021-22 postseason.

“We’ve come a long way. A lot of us didn’t expect us to be (at nationals), but I also think in the postseason we’ve earned it, we’ve worked hard,” said Zuchotzki.

“Now it’s just time to show everyone that hey, just because we’re a big rookie team doesn’t mean anything. We’re going to show everyone we do belong here.”

While it’s the rookie’s first time at a U Sports championship, Zuchotzki has played in high-pressure games. She was part of the female U18 Team Saskatchewan that won silver at the 2019 National Women’s U18 Championship in Winkler, Man.

Current Huskies assistant coach Nolan Horbach was the team’s head coach. Along with Zuchotzki, the roster included current Huskies players Kendall, Brooklyn Stevely, Paris Oleksyn, Jasper Desmerais and Larissa Bohlken.

Bohlken also has a tie-in to Huskies’ nationals history, as older sister Leah played in the 2017-18 U Sports championship in London, Ont.

While Larissa didn’t get to attend the event in person, given her own hockey commitments, the Moose Jaw product watched the tournament from home.

She said her sister has shared some advice ahead of this year’s nationals.

“Her big thing was just enjoy the experience. In her five years, they only went once. She’s like, ‘this might be the only time you guys go so take it all in, work hard and have fun,” Bohlken said.

Huskies goaltender Camryn Drever stands in the natural spotlight of the crease during the team’s second practice at the MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown, PEI on March 23, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

Huskies starting goaltender Camryn Drever is also preparing for her first U Sports championship tournament.

The Edmonton product started all six postseason games so far, and has a 4-1-1 record with two shutout wins, a GAA of 1.31 and save percentage of 0.961.

Drever also faced the most shots on goal in the Canada West postseason, making 209 saves over six games while the second closest was Alberta netminder Halle Oswald with 98 saves over four games.

“No matter what happens, I’m proud of how I’ve played and how we came together this year,” she said.

“It hasn’t been easy and it’s been quite the challenge to figure out how to be the starter, how it all works, and carrying the load for the team … but I’m super excited and ready to keep it rolling.”

Drever played with Brock University forward Cassidy Maplethorpe in 2016-17 on the midget AAA St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Female Hockey League. Their team went on to win the Esso Cup championship that season.

The two, who haven’t seen each other since, will square off in their respective teams’ first game of the 2021-22 U Sports championship on Friday at 3 p.m. EST, noon CST.

This will be Brock University’s first nationals appearance, after the team secured its first Ontario University Athletics title. The team is helmed by head coach Margot Page.

HuskieFAN is broadcasting all Saskatchewan games at the U Sports Championship in Charlottetown PEI on the HuskieFAN app and at huskiefan.ca.