Off The Leash Luncheon weekend
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It’s a long weekend of sorts for the Huskie men’s hockey team. Thursday’s “Off The Leash Luncheon” kicks off a big three days of activities for the program. 2007 Stanley Cup champion, Ryan Getzlaf, is this year’s guest speaker for the annual fundraising event at Prairieland Park. “It’s such an important part of our program,” said Huskie men’s hockey coach Brandin Cote. “To have the support that we do from the business community, that we do from the alumni and all the stakeholders, it helps run our program.”
The Calgary Dinos are in Saskatoon for November 10th and 11th games at Merlis Belsher Place. The Huskies have stormed out to a 9 and 1 start this season and are returning home after splitting weekend games against rival, Alberta. “The reality is setting in that we have to take as many points as we can”, said Cote. The second place Huskies enter the weekend four points back of the front running UBC Thunderbirds in the Canada West standings.
Centre Liam Keeler returned to the Huskie line-up last weekend after suffering a nasty orbital injury during opening weekend of the season against the Bisons in Winnipeg. The second year forward from Edmonton was third in team scoring last season with 25 points in 27 regular season games. He will give the Huskies some added presence on offense. “We are so fortunate to have him back”, said Cote. “He didn’t look tentative at all. He plays with one speed and that’s fast. It’s just going to take him a little bit of time to get into the timing of everything.
At 7-2 and 1, the third place Dinos are three points back of the Huskies. Calgary eliminated Saskatchewan from the Canada West playoffs last season and Cote knows what kind of weekend it will be. “It’s going to be real intense physical hockey. They have a big heavy team. I think we can counteract that with our speed. They are one of the top teams in the league, I believe we are ready to take on that challenge.”
