Courtesy: Liam Richards/Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics

By Wray Morrison

Bears Advance

Eliminated in overtime

Feb 18, 2024 | 11:27 PM

Sunday was a tough day for Huskie hockey fans. Hours after the Calgary Dino women’s team eliminated Saskatchewan from the Canada West playoffs, the Alberta Golden Bears put an end the Huskie men’s season by posting a 5-4 overtime win over the home team at Merlis Belsher Place. The Bears won the best-of-three quarterfinal 2-1 and now advance to round 2 of the Canada West playoffs.

Fourth year Bear, Daneel Lategan, tipped in an Aidan de la Gorgendiere shot at the 4:53 mark of the first OT session. Huskie coach Brandin Cote kept his players on the bench shortly after the goal, questioning whether goaltender Roddy Ross was interfered with. “It looked initially like there was contact with the goalie,” said Cote. “Their guy did push our guy in to Roddy. His progress to come across was impeded a little bit.”

That wasn’t Cote’s only concern. Referees Adam Forbes and Troy Murray assessed seven minor penalties to the Huskies and four to Alberta. The Bears tied the game, 4-4, on a Tyler Preziuso power play marker at 10:49 of the third period after Cole Jordan of the Huskies was called for a trip less than a minute earlier. “I thought (the call) was terrible”, Cote said. “It was like a three second delay! The guy in the corner saw it right there and he didn’t make a move to call it. The guy 75 feet away waits until (the Bears) react and puts his arm up.”

Saskatchewan had a 2-0 lead to start the game. Cade Hayes scored in the first period and Dawson Holt scored early in the second. The Bears roared back with three consecutive second period goals. de la Gorgendiere cut Saskatchewan’s lead to 2-1, then first year Bear Alex Thacker scored back to back goals 5 and a half minutes part to help the visitors to a 3-2 advantage. 3^rd year Huskie, Ty Prefontaine, scored a shorthanded goal late in the period to tie the game at 3-3.

Vince Loschiavo brought the Huskie crowd to its feet in the third period when he buried a go-ahead tally at 6:44, minutes before Preziuso’s equalizer. 2^nd year goaltender Ethan Kruger, who was spectacular in both Alberta wins, made 29 saves on Sunday night. Roddy Ross stopped 29 Alberta shots.

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Cote said his team left it all on the ice. “It was a back-and-forth game,” he said. “It was like one of those ESPN Classics in a way. It’s just hard when you’re on the wrong end of it.” The head coach is encouraged about the direction of his team. “Of my years here, this has been the most enjoyable in terms of watching our older guys take control of our group and our younger guys following in a big way.”

Captain Shane Collins played in his final game as a Huskie. The Rosetown, Saskatchewan product, who is studying law, dressed for over 120 contests for the University of Saskatchewan dating back to his first season in 2018-19. When asked about his teammates Collins said “It’s a great team, really tight. All year I’ve been impressed with the young guys, there is some great older leadership in the room as well.”

Cote had big praise for Collins after the game. “Anytime you’ve been in one spot and you’ve invested your heart and soul and everything in to it, (losing) not an easy thing,” he said. “I have nothing but great respect for Shane Collins. He’s been a fabulous leader and role model for our program.”

The Bears now visit the UBC Thunderbirds in the Canada West semi-finals while Mount Royal faces Calgary in the conferences other final four matchup.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

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