Huskies double up Bears in wild Friday night affair at Merlis Belsher Place
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In a game that had a playoff feel, in front of a large crowd, the U of S Huskies defeated the Alberta Golden Bears 4-2 at Merlis Belsher Place on Friday night. Saskatchewan goaltender Jordan Kooy registered his fourth straight win and 7th victory of the season with a 30 save performance. The Bradford, Ontario product says his hard work is playing off. “I think it stems from summer putting a good off season”, he said. The third year Huskie was also quick to credit his teammates. “The guys have been playing amazing lately, I have to credit them.”
Saskatchewan jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on a pair of goals less than two minutes apart. Raphael Pelletier scored at 6:51, then Vince Loschiavo scored at the 8:43 mark. The Huskies were forced to kill off eight Alberta power play opportunities in the game. When asked about some of the calls, head coach Brandin Cote was careful. “We battled through some adversity. Let’s put it that way.”
The Bears scored on the man advantage at the 4:39 mark of the second period as Bruce MacGregor buried his 1st of the season to cut the home team’s lead to 2-1. However, the Huskies converted on an Alberta miscue 6 minutes later. Veteran Bear defender, Dylan Plouffe, coughed up the puck in front of his own net and Carter Stebbings scored a shorthanded goal to make it a 3-1 game at the 10:44 mark.
There were more fireworks later in the period when Huskie blueliner Jeff Faith was given a 5-minute penalty and a game misconduct for a checking to the head call. Faith hit Blake Gustafson in the Alberta zone and the 1st year Golden Bear was down on the ice for a few minutes before skating off the ice on his own. “It’s unfortunate”, said Cote. “I hope he’s ok”. The Huskies did kill the penalty off, but Alberta did score a power play goal in the final minute of the middle frame as Eric Florchuk buried his 9th of the season to make it 3-2.
