5 things to know as Huskies women resume hockey season in 2023

Drever, Pozzi representing Canada

Two key players will be out of the Huskies lineup for at least several games as they get set to represent Canada in the 2023 World University Games.

Defensive veteran Isabella Pozzi and starting goaltender Cameron Drever, both fourth years, are in Lake Placid, New York for the tournament.

“I’m very happy for them, even though they will be missed in our lineup,” said Huskies head coach Steve Kook.

“It’s perhaps a once in a lifetime experience and they deserve it. Gives a chance for others to play up in our lineup.”

Canada will play five round robin games and kick off the tournament against Slovakia on Jan. 11.

Their schedule then ramps up with the Czech Republic on Jan. 14, Japan on Jan. 15, Great Britain on Jan. 17, and the United States on Jan. 18. Semi-finals are slated for Jan. 18, with the medal games on Jan. 21.

Huskies starting goaltender Cameron Drever (right) chats with second-year netminder Colby Wilson during a practice at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary on Dec. 2, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

Poised for playoffs

Kook has not been shy about his pursuit of a home playoff game.

While the 2021-22 season ended with a historic bronze medal win in the U Sports national championship, the road there involved zigzagging the country with stops in Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver before Charlottetown, PEI.

The Huskies enter the second half of the season ranked fourth in Canada West (10-5-3) with 23 points. That’s good enough for quarter-final series at home if they can at least maintain the standing.

UBC, which bested the Huskies for last year’s Canada West title, is the conference’s current front runner with 30 points, followed by Mount Royal University with 29 points and the University of Alberta with 28 points.

Saskatchewan faces all three top squads in their final stretch of the 2022-23 regular season.

Canada West quarter-finals are slated for Feb. 17-19, with the semi-finals and final following consecutive weekends. The 2023 U Sports Championship will be held in Montreal, Que. from March 16-19.

TBD on injuries

At least three Huskies women’s hockey players sustained injuries during the final weekend of regular season play for 2022.

This includes the team’s captain clutch, Kennedy Brown.

Saskatchewan split the series against the Calgary Dinos, ending with a double overtime loss on Dec. 3.

With more than a month since that game, Kook told HuskieFAN Thursday the situation for team injuries is “TBD.”

Rookie rockstar leading team

Taylor Wilkinson returned from a serious shoulder injury to win a provincial championship with the Lakeland College Rustlers in 2021-22.

Now, the U Sports rookie is hungry to help the Huskies win their first Canada West title since 2013-14.

Wilkinson starts the calendar year as Saskatchewan’s points leader. Through the team’s 18 games so far, she has three goals and seven assists — the majority on special teams.

“She sure doesn’t play like a rookie,” Kook said.

“She’s got great vision on the ice and a patience with the puck that allows her to create opportunities.”

Huskies forward Taylor Wilkinson listens intently during team practice at Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary, Alta. on Dec. 2, 2022. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

No place like home

Saskatchewan will host three of their final five regular season weekends at home, including a rare Sunday game at 2 p.m. on Feb. 5.

That one is a make-good after the University of Regina Cougars hosted both nights of what was supposed to be a home-and-home series earlier this season.

There was a water main break at Merlis Belsher Place that weekend.

As always, HuskieFAN will broadcast Huskies women’s hockey games both at home and away, right through the postseason.

Hear the action live or archived on the HuskieFAN app and at huskiefan.ca

by Daniella Ponticelli