Huskies visit Trinity Western in BC weekend series

The Huskie women’s hockey team begins a four-game road stint with a pair of games in Langley against the Trinity Western Spartans on the November 6-7 weekend. The two-game set features a pair of the top teams in the west division of the Canada West conference as the Spartans are in first place with 11 points, the Huskies have 9 with a record of 4-3-1 entering the series. 

Saskatchewan is looking to rebound after 5-1 and 3-2 losses to the UBC Thunderbirds on October 30th and 31st at Merlis Belsher Place. “We were invested in both games”, said head coach Steve Kook. “Game one wasn’t our best version. I think we play with pace, sometimes we play with too much pace.” 

Kook is looking for the team’s transition game to improve. “Friday night we broke out 68 times, Saturday night we broke out 48 times. We were way cleaner”, he said. “If you are in your own zone for 30 seconds trying to break out, and then you have to do it for another 15, you don’t have enough gas to have an offensive rush the other way.” 

While goaltender Clara Juca has played the bulk of the games, veteran Emma Backman has two starts, including the 3-2 loss on Saturday where she made 26 saves. “Those two have been playing well”, said Kook. “Emma’s performance, as of late, is part of the reason why she is travelling with us.”