Huskies women's hockey assistant coach Brian McGregor during a team practice in Calgary on Dec. 2, 2021. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

By Daniella Ponticelli

Defence coach Brian McGregor weighs in

Huskies young defence ready for first Canada West playoff series

Feb 25, 2022 | 7:10 AM

Huskies women’s hockey made its mark on the 2021-22 Canada West regular season with 13 rookies on the roster.

Now, these young players are getting ready for their first taste of U Sports playoff hockey.

University of Saskatchewan assistant coach Brian McGregor works with the defence. He told HuskieFAN the team’s six rookie defensive players have progressed steadily through the regular season.

“From where they started to where they are now, in my mind, it’s just a phenomenal amount of progress. They should be proud,” said McGregor.

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The Huskies (11-7-1) are in Winnipeg this weekend for the Canada West quarter-final against the University of Manitoba Bisons (13-7-0).

The best-of-three series will be played at the Wayne Fleming Arena and broadcast live on HuskieFAN.

Friday and Saturday’s guaranteed games start at 7 p.m. Sunday’s game is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Leaning on leaders

McGregor noted that the biggest challenge for first years is levelling up from AAA midget hockey, where players skate against their peers and are comparable in speed and strength.

“Coming into your first year in U Sports athletics, the game is quicker. The tactics are different,” he said.

“Some of them are playing against women who are three or four years older in the league. Three or four years of high-performance training makes a huge difference.”

Defender Kendra Zuchotzki leads the team’s rookies in points (6), goals (3) and assists (3).

Assistant coaches Christine Bumstead and Brian McGregor at Huskies women’s hockey practice on Dec. 2, 2021. (Daniella Ponticelli/HuskieFAN)

Third-year defender Isabella Pozzi is the only returning Huskie, as third-year Meg Dyer played her first two U Sports years with the University of Lethbridge.

“We certainly lean on them quite a bit. When they start to lead by example, that’s the biggest thing you can ask for,” McGregor said.

McGregor has coached the Kelsey College Amaruks, University of Saskatchewan men’s, men’s AAA midget Blazers, women’s AAA midget Stars, men’s SHA Sask First Under 17.

He took a break for several years to be present for his children and their sports obligations.

“When they find success, to me, that’s what it’s all about” — Brian McGregor, Huskies women’s hockey assistant coach

Ahead of the 2015-16 season, he got a call from Huskies head coach Steve Kook that would bring him into the women’s program.

“I like to think I’m a teacher in the game,” he said.

“With the girls, they are like sponges — they take what you say, they try to execute it. And when they find success, to me, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

McGregor added that when athletes are done their five years with the program, they become more than just high-performance hockey players.

“They’re leaders in their own right. They’re confident in their own right,” he said.

“That’s the biggest thing we can send them off with, being leaders in their community.”

McGregor has previously received the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association coach of the year and won a Canada Winter Games gold medal.

As a player, he was selected by the Boston Bruins in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.

Listen to all Huskies women’s hockey games live and archived on huskiefan.ca or by downloading the free HuskieFAN app.