Courtesy: Huskie Athletics

By Wray Morrison

Listen: Coach's Show with Brandin Cote

It’s a 2025 Canada West semi-final rematch

Nov 28, 2025 | 10:23 AM

The UBC Thunderbirds bring an impressive 12-1 and 1 record to Merlis Belsher Place ahead of November 28^th and 29^th games against the Huskie men’s hockey team at Merlis Belsher Place. USask posted 6-3 and 5-2 wins over the MacEwan Griffins on the November 21^st and 22^nd weekend and sit in second place in the Canada West, east division with 17 points…11 back of front running Calgary with four games in hand on the Dinos.

The (8-3-1) Huskies, who are the defending conference champions, ended a three-game losing skid with last weekend’s sweep over the Griffins and are returning to form according to coach Brandin Cote. “I thought we played with more energy…more pace. We just looked more like our selves. We are trending in the right direction. I like a lot of what we are doing.”

Saskatchewan had the best power play in the Canada West conference last season, operating at 31.1%. This season the team is fourth at 21.7% but scored three times on seven chances against MacEwan. “Our special teams took a step”, said Cote. “Our power play looked more like our power play should. The puck speed was much improved.”

Both the west division leading Thunderbirds and Huskies have several returnees from last season’s thrilling Canada West semi-final series, where USask defeated UBC 2 games to 1 to advance to the conference final. Saskatchewan lost the opener in overtime and rallied from 3-2 down in the third period of the second game to win 3-2 and force a third and deciding game, which the Huskies won 4-2.

(UBC) is rolling right along”, said Cote. “They’ve got a solid group up and down.” The T-Birds have three of the conference’s top five scorers in Sasha Mutala, Jake Poole and Chris Douglas. “They have guys who can make you pay”, Cote said. “Our guys will be ready. It’ll be exciting to be back at home, and we are looking forward to the challenge. It’s going to be great.”

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The Huskies will have captain Gunner Kinniburgh available for the Thunderbird series. The veteran defenceman has been out of the line up since the pre-season due to injury. “We are at full health”, Cote said.

Cote chatted with HuskieFAN about this weekend’s series against the Thunderbirds.

The November 28^th contest starts at 7:00 PM, while the November 29^th game starts at 5:00 PM at Merlis Belsher Place. Both games can be heard on the free HuskieFAN app.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

X: @wraymorrison