Courtesy: Huskie Athletics
Isabella Pozzi

Thunderbirds respond with overtime win

Oct 15, 2022 | 11:37 PM

In yet another overtime contest, the Huskie women’s hockey team suffered a 2-1 loss to the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday night at Merlis Belsher Place. All four of the Huskie home games have been decided in extra time so far this season. Saskatchewan defeated the T-Birds 3-2 in overtime on Friday night.

3rd year winger Chanreet Bassi scored the winning goal at the 2:51 mark of the fifth overtime period of the series finale on Saturday. With three skaters aside, the Thunderbird winger made a quick move to the right before snapping the puck past Huskie goaltender Camryn Drever.

UBC opened the scoring on a first period power play goal from Mackenzie Kordic. The Huskies responded with a player advantage goal of their own in the middle frame from the stick of 2nd year winger Sara Kendall.

Even though the Huskies won an emotional, hard fought game Friday night, it didn’t translate to a strong start on Saturday. UBC outshot Saskatchewan 12-7 in the first 20 minutes of the contest. “The first period obviously wasn’t very good for us”, said Huskie had coach Steve Kook. “I think that first period did us in.”

Saskatchewan seemed to get better as the game went on. In the second period the home side outshot the visitors 8-7. However, UBC outshot the Huskies 26-19 in the game. “It took us the whole second period to start to tilt the ice a little bit”, said Kook.

4th year Huskie Isabella Pozzi and defensive partner Kendra Zuchotzki played a big role in both weekend games. Zuchotzki scored the overtime winner on Friday night, while the duo was key to helping the Huskies get back on track after falling behind early on Saturday. Pozzi admitted that emotions play a role when facing the Thunderbirds, a team that defeated Saskatchewan in the Canada West final last season. “They’re always a fun team to play against”, said Pozzi. “There is a history there. Coming in to the weekend, we knew it was going to be a battle.”

By picking up three of a possible four points, the Huskies sit in third place in the standings with 8 points, one back of UBC. “It’s good to get points, especially early”, said Kook. Mount Royal tops the standings with 11 after a weekend sweep of Calgary.

The Huskies visit the Alberta Pandas on October 20th and 21st in Edmonton. The Pandas are 3 and 3 on the season after losing a pair to Trinity Western University.

wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison

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