Huskies look to carry scoring momentum into clash with Calgary

“The answer is yes, as they also need clean points and are hungry from them.”

Heading into Week 9, the Huskies are currently in playoff position ranked fourth in Canada West and ninth in national standings.

Saskatchewan is 9-5-0-2 after splitting last weekend’s road series against the University of Manitoba Bisons.

The dogs closed with a statement 6-3 win last Saturday featuring a U Sports career-first hat trick from fourth-year forward Sophie Lalor.

“It was amazing,” Lalor said. “My first two goals I got a perfect pass from Mallory Dyer and then from Taylor Wilkinson. My teammates, everyone, is just working so well together and clicking.”

Lalor scored in each period of the game, her third and final goal coming in just over 16 minutes into the third off an assist from second-year defensive player Kendra Zuchotzki.

Special teams proved to be the spark, when the Huskies – who’ve allowed just four power play goals all year — scored short-handed just over a minute into the second period.

The team also cashed in on their second power play with less than three minutes left in the middle frame. The Bisons — who’ve scored 12 power play goals — were 0 for 4.

“Penalty kill has been good all season and our power play is connecting and making reads rather than being robotic,” said head coach Kook.

Huskies goaltenders Colby Wilson (left) and Cameron Drever during morning practice at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alta. on Dec. 2, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

Overall, Manitoba outshot Saskatchewan 47 to 24, but the Huskies were more efficient with the three goals from Lalor, two from captain Kennedy Brown and one from rookie points-leader Taylor Wilkinson.

“The team has given me a lot of opportunities and I’ve gotten to play with some really good girls and I think, overall, our team is doing really well this first half,” Wilkinson said.

The University of Calgary Dinos, meanwhile, are seventh in the nine-team Canada West conference (6-9-0-1) with 14 points. The team split their home-and-home last weekend against the University of Alberta Pandas, winning 2-1 in Edmonton and losing 3-2 at home.

Saskatchewan is 9-1 in their last 10 meetings with the Dinos. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortening last season, the Huskies haven’t played the U of C in Calgary since Oct. 26, 2019.

Play-by-play announcer Daniella Ponticelli returns this weekend – and will remain through the rest of the 2022-23 season – as the voice of University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey at home and on the road.

Listen to all live and archived broadcasts on HuskieFAN.ca and on the HuskieFAN app.

by Daniella Ponticelli

Huskies look to carry scoring momentum into clash with Calgary

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