Huskies strike first against Bears
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A newcomer and a veteran played huge roles in the Huskies’ 5-0 win over the Alberta Golden Bears in game one of a best-of-three Canada West quarterfinal at Merlis Belsher Place on Friday night. Goaltender Nolan Maier, who joined Saskatchewan in January, made 30 stops in his Canada West playoff debut. Fifth-year forward Chantz Petruic helped lead the charge with a pair of goals.
USask struck a couple of minutes into the game when Eric Johnston played a puck ahead for Connor Roulette who beat Bears goaltender Ethan Kruger. The home side killed off two first period penalties, then scored while shorthanded early in the middle frame.
Jarrett Penner converted on an Ethan Regnier pass to make it 2-0. Petruic buried his first of two at 9:29 of the second to put the Huskies up by three, chasing Alberta starter Ethan Kruger from the net. The Huskie penalty kill was sensational all night, killing off four consecutive minor penalties in the first 40 minutes.
Johnston, a first year Huskie who played in just six regular season games, collected his second assist on a Liam Keeler marker nine minutes into the third period to make it 4-0. Petruic’s second goal came in the final minute against Drew Sim who replaced Kruger in the Alberta net.
