“We were out battled in our own barn.” – Brandin Cote

Huskie men’s hockey coach Brandin Cote had a blunt response to his team’s effort on Friday night. “Our feet were slow, our hands were slow, our minds were slow.” It was a very direct take following Saskatchewan’s 5-2 home ice loss to the Calgary Dinos at Merlis Belsher Place. “We got out battled in our own barn”, Cote said. “It’s unacceptable.” The Dinos outshot the Huskies 33-24.

1^st year forward Jake Poole got the visitors off to a quick start by scoring 1:49 into the hockey game. Calgary then took a commanding three goal lead with a pair of power play goals less than six minutes apart. Veteran forwards Jake Gricius and Jaeger White scored at 6:51 and 12:43 of the first period. “The first goal, our goalie wasn’t ready”, said Cote. “I didn’t like some of the (penalty) calls, but they made good plays. It’s 3-0 and we are reeling.” (Calgary was 2 for 7 on the power play.)

Cote replaced starting goaltender Roddy Ross at the 12:43 mark of the first period with Jordan Kooy, as the Huskies allowed the three goals on eight shots. “We needed a change of scenery”, said Cote. “The first goal, I didn’t like at all. Jordan has been working hard all week to get back in to shape and get ready. I thought he did a great job.”

2^nd year forward Carter Stebbings helped the Huskies cut the deficit to 3-1 late in the first period, but Calgary’s Colson Gengenbach scored back-to-back goals early in the second period to make it a 5-1 hockey game and Saskatchewan was not capable of overcoming the deficit. Frist year centre, Josh Pillar, scored Saskatchewan’s second goal at the 15:44 mark of the middle frame. There was no scoring in the third period.