Bears force deciding game
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A regular season trend carried through to the playoffs for the Alberta Golden Bears men’s hockey team. After struggling in a 4-2 loss on Friday night, the Bears responded on Saturday with a 3-2 win over the U of S Huskies at Merlis Belsher Place. The best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series is now tied 1-1. Alberta had won just 2 of 8 Friday, road games in the regular season, but were 6-2 in Saturday contests.
The Bears showed great character in the win, overcoming a 2-1 first period deficit. Justin Ball, who scored a power play goal on Friday night, scored another on the man advantage Saturday to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Just over a minute later Alberta tied the game on a Connor McLennon marker. Saskatchewan’s leading scorer, Chantz Petruic, put the Huskies up by one with 7:28 left to go in the first period.
With the Huskies up 2-1, U of S coach Brandin Cote was forced to pull starting goaltender, Jordan Kooy, in favour of Roddy Ross to start the second period. “(Kooy) was just sick”, said Cote. “After the first period, he wasn’t feeling well. He wasn’t feeling good enough to keep going so we put Roddy in.” The Bears outshot the Huskies 13-8 in the second period and tied the game on a Tyler Preziuso marker at 6:07. “Roddy came in and played well”, said Cote. “I thought Kooy played well under the circumstances, too.”
Alberta 2nd year goaltender, Ethan Kruger, made some big third period saves as the Huskies outshot their opponents 14-6 in the final 20 minutes of the game. The Sherwood Park product made 28 stops for the win. “He made some good saves down the stretch”, said Cote. Kruger’s great play held Alberta in it as Preziuso’s second goal at 8:08 of the third period stood as the winner.
