The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team celebrate a 4-0 victory over the University of Calgary Dinos in Game 2 of their Canada West quarter-final series.

By Katie Brickman-Young

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Feb 26, 2022 | 11:04 PM

Alec Zawatsky was the unlikely hero for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team.

The fourth-line centre who has been in and out of the line-up this season came up big when the Huskies were up against the wall.

Zawatsky scored the Huskies’ first goal – and eventual game-winner – in the opening frame to help Saskatchewan notch a 4-0 victory over the University of Calgary Dinos in Game 2 of their Canada West quarter-final match-up.

The win pushes the series to a 1-1 tie and all a winner-takes-all Game 3 on Sunday night (7 p.m., Merlis Belsher Place) in Saskatoon.

“To come out like that and set us up for a great first period was huge. Zaw(atsky) is just a big energy ball and when he does good things like that, it gives us hope and pace,” said Connor Hobbs, Huskies’ defenseman. “It shows the depth and the attention to detail. (Parker) Gavlas has never played forward, and he is taking on this role in stride and the fourth line is not an easy place to be.”

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The Huskies dominated the game from the initial face-off to the final buzzer – a complete game from the crease out. They suffocated the Dinos for much of the first two periods and only gave up 20 shots – 10 through the first two frames.

“I thought it was pure domination the whole game,” said Hobbs. “Hopefully we can bring it again tomorrow.”

Vince Loschiavo scored late in the first period on a rebound in the slot to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead heading to the break.

The Dinos had a good stretch mid-way through the second period where they held possession in the Huskies zone. It was an onslaught of activity, and the Huskies top line was pinned in the defensive zone, but four blocked shots by Zane Franklin and Justin Ball, along with a wicked glove save by Roddy Ross kept the Dinos scoreless.

“That save in the second period was huge. They were having their push mid-game and we had guys sprawling out – Ballsy and Franky were blocking four shots in one shift. And then Roddy comes out with the big save. It can stop their momentum and it fires us up on the bench,” said Hobbs. ‘That’s just playoffs – especially tonight when it’s do or die. Guys are showing their stones a bit. It was fun to be part of.”

Justin Ball scored at 4:40 in the middle frame to add an insurance goal. Donovan Neuls scored the Huskies’ fourth goal late in the third period.

The ice opened up in the third period and the Dinos had a bit more jump, but Ross was strong and composed in net for the Huskies. He finished with a 20-save shut out on the night.

“Roddy did a good job. We weren’t as good in the third, but we dominated the first two periods,” said Mike Babcock, head coach of the Huskies.

For the second game in a row, the Huskies couldn’t produce on the power play. They had multiple chances and looked dangerous on the man advantage, but just couldn’t get one in the net. They had the best power play in Canada West in the regular season.

“I thought our power play was outstanding tonight and we didn’t score a goal,” said Babcock. “We have been very dangerous on the power play and eventually it has to start going in.”

With the victory, the Huskies and Dinos will face off in the final game of this best-of-three series on Sunday night. Emotions ran high multiple times throughout this game with a lot of after the whistle scrums. The team will look to control the highs and lows if they want to come out on top and move on to the semifinals.

“It’s easy to say you are going to be totally even keel until you are in the heat of the moment, but I think we just need to keep it in mind that there are games to play if we win. We can’t throw it away on some foolish stuff,” said Hobbs.

Hobbs returned to the line-up after missing the last two weekends in the regular season due to an injury. He was a difference-maker on the blueline for the Huskies and brings a solid veteran presence to the line-up.

“It feels good to win. It’s awesome (to be back). It sucks watching. I can’t stand being up there and watching when I know that I can help the team. It felt good to be back out,” he said.

The message is easy for both teams – win and keep fighting for the Canada West banner; lose and the season is over. For the Huskies, they aren’t ready to it to be over.

“We don’t want to be done right now – we can’t even golf right now,” said Hobbs with a laugh. “We have a tight group here and we have a good group of people in that room from the coaching staff down. We all want to stick around and give people a show.”

And a show was had on Saturday, especially in the student section that is behind the opposing goalie net. They bring an electric energy to the building and one that the Huskies’ players feed upon during the game.

“It’s awesome. I’ve never experienced something like that – a student section. A real team spirit-like atmosphere with young people our age,” said Hobbs. “It is totally new for me, and it is fun. We feed off it so much when they are here. It drives us to go a little harder.”