Huskies dominate Spartans in Saturday night series finale

As the bus carrying the Huskie men’s hockey team left the Langley Events Centre on Saturday night, the driver sounded the horn four times, representing the four points that the Huskies collected in back-to-back victories over the Trinity Western Spartans on the weekend. Following a disjointed 7-6 win on Friday night, the Huskies looked much more in sync in a 7-2 Saturday night victory.

Saskatchewan dictated play early, outshooting the Spartans 24-6 in the first period. Alec Zawatzky and Connor Hobbs beat Trinity Western goaltender Berk Berkeliev in the opening frame. Hobbs, Saskatchewan’s team captain, had a four point night. “I still think there is another level for me”, he said. “However, I did play better. I feel good right now.”

The dominance continued in the middle frame as Justin Ball, Vince Loschiavo and Cael Zimmerman scored to lift Saskatchewan to a 5-2 lead going in to the third period. Chantz Petruic and Evan Fiala put pucks in the Spartan net in the final frame. Huskie goaltender Jordan Kooy, who came on in relief on Friday night, registered the win Saturday with a 25 save performance. The Huskies outshot Trinity Western 60-27.

Following Friday night’s win, where the Huskies let a two goal lead get away and had to overcome a 4-2 deficit, players took ownership for their play ahead of Saturday’s game with a morning meeting. “Things that get shoved away in the drawer, die in the light of exposure”, Hobbs said. “We were losing battles (on Friday) that we don’t normally lose. We took it upon ourselves to just pull together. It showed. We played so much better (on Saturday) and we played as a team.”