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By Wray Morrison

Listen: Huskie Goaltender Emma Backman

Huskie women’s hockey team stages 17th annual “Play for a Cure” game on Friday

Jan 15, 2026 | 3:15 PM

Only one Huskie team is at home for the January 15^th-16^th weekend as the USask women’s hockey squad hosts the Mount Royal Cougars at Merlis Belsher Place. The “Play for Cure” game is Friday night, as Saskatchewan players raise money for cancer. Last season the team raised $17,000.00 in the annual event.

This year the Huskie women’s hockey team is playing for 50-year-old Kerri Backman, whose daughter Emma is a USask goaltender. Kerri was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of 2025, but it is now in remission.

Emma Backman chatted with HuskieFAN about her mom Kerri and about how important the “Play for a Cure” game is to the team.

After losing a pair of home games to the Manitoba Bisons last weekend the Huskies are clinging to a two-point lead over the Bisons for the third and final playoff spot in the east division of the Canada West standings. (USask has 18 points, Manitoba has 16.)

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The Mount Royal Cougars top the east division standings with a 15-4-1 record and have 31 points, two more than second place Calgary. MRU defeated the Huskies twice earlier this season in Calgary by scores of 3-1 and 1-0 on October 3^rd and 4^th.

Friday night’s game starts at 7:00 PM at Merlis Belsher Place, the Saturday night game starts at 5:00 PM.

Click here for Huskie tickets.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

X: @wraymorrison