The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team celebrates a quarter-final series win against the Calgary Dinos at Father David Bauer Arena on Feb. 18, 2023. (Huskie Athletics)

By Daniella Ponticelli

Sask. head to Canada West Final Four

Huskies dominate Dinos to sweep quarter-final series

Feb 18, 2023 | 11:34 PM

The Huskies women’s hockey team left nothing to chance Saturday night.

The University of Saskatchewan headed into Game 2 with a shot at sweeping their quarter-final round against the higher-seed University of Calgary Dinos.

With that, Saskatchewan delivered through 60 minutes of fast-paced, physical play for a 3-2 win.

“We played a solid game,” Huskies head coach Steve Kook said.

“We fought hard to try and find pucks, and they did a good job of just trying to find bodies and any sort of stick at the net.”

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Huskies goaltender Camryn Drever turned away 26 shots on goal for her second start of the 2023 Canada West playoffs.

Dinos netminder Gabriella Durante faced fewer threats, making 15 saves off 18 shots.

Calgary opened scoring 2:49 into the first period with a goal from Brette Kerley, helped by Saskatoon product Sydney Mercier for her second assist of the playoffs.

The Huskies then went on a three-goal run, starting with Sara Kendall at 10:49 in the opening frame, assisted by fourth-year Sophie Lalor.

Seven minutes later, defenceman Kendra Zuchotzki fired a one-timer past Dinos’ goaltender Gabriella Durante, assisted by linemate Isabella Pozzi.

Into the second with a 2-1 lead, Pozzi put one top shelf, off a feed from Lalor and Brooklyn Stevely, to get the eventual game-winner on the power play.

“I’ve just been getting pucks to the net, kinda thing, so yeah just anything to help us score,” Pozzi said post-game.

The fourth-year defenseman finished the weekend as the Huskies playoff points leader, with two goals and two assists.

The Calgary product went goal-less through 24 regular-season games, recording five assists. However, Pozzi also proudly wore the A for Team Canada in their undefeated, Gold-medal run at the Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games in January.

“That whole experience really showed me what level I can bring my game to,” she said.

“Super grateful for that because it’s really helped me coming back to our team.”

Meanwhile, Lalor finished the weekend with three points: one power goal on Friday, following by her power play assist and an even-strength helper Saturday.

Saskatchewan went one-for-three on the player advantage, and four-for-four on the penalty kill in Game 2. Through the series, the Huskies went two-for-five on the power play and eight-for-nine on the kill.

“We’ve just been working (on the power play) and just having that confidence to slow things down, make the plays and getting our shots through has been really big for us,” Lalor said.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, and we are putting it all together right when it matters the most.”

For her effort on the ice and on special teams, fourth-year Calgary product Kenzie Lausberg was awarded the Huskies Player of the Game green cape.

“It’s nice to kind of feel like I’ve got my feet under me,” Lausberg said.

“Just having good linemates, good teammates, to support you ⁠— I think that’s what brings it all together and gives me the confidence to do it for them, do it for me, do it for everyone here.”

The Dinos tried to claw back late in the third, pulling Durante for the sixth attacker to add to their tally with three minutes left. Calgary’s Rebecca Clarke notched her third goal of the weekend, assisted by Keagan Goulet and Erin Armstrong.

The Dinos were without their leading scorer, fifth-year Alli Borrow, reportedly due to a lower-body injury. Borrow played all 28 regular season games and in the quarter-final Game 1, assisted both of Clarke’s goals Friday night.

Canada West Final Four

It’s still uncertain where Saskatchewan will play their semifinal next weekend.

The sixth-ranked Trinity Western University Spartans upset third-ranked Mount Royal University with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 2 Saturday.

That series will head to a deciding Game 3 at 7 p.m. MT Sunday in Calgary.

If Mount Royal wins the round, they will visit the No. 2-ranked University of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton next weekend, while Saskatchewan will head to Vancouver to meet the No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds.

UBC finished the regular season 24-2-2 for 50 points; seven more than Alberta.

If the Spartans play spoiler Sunday, the semifinal visits flip, with Saskatchewan as the higher-seed quarter-final winner to visit the Pandas.

“No matter where we go, we have a job to do,” Lalor said.

“We’re going to bring it and we’re feeling great right now and that’s all that matters.”

The Canada West semifinals on Feb. 24-26, along with finals the following weekend, is a best-of-three series.

Both conference finalists earn berths to the U Sports Women’s Hockey Championship in Montreal, Que. on March 16-19.

Catch all Huskie women’s hockey broadcasts on the HuskieFAN app and at HuskieFAN.ca.

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daniella.ponticelli@pattisonmedia.ca

Twitter: @dponticelliTV