Head coach Steve Kook and the Huskies fell 4-1 to the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday in Calgary. Photo Electric Umbrella/Derek Elvin

By Ryan Flaherty

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Special teams fall flat as Huskies beaten by Cougars

Oct 26, 2024 | 8:41 PM

An unproductive power play and an ineffective penalty kill cost the Huskies women’s hockey team a shot at its first win of the season as they fell 4-1 to the No. 3 ranked Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday night in Calgary.

The Cougars scored three times on four opportunities while the Huskies failed to capitalize on five power plays including a 48-second five-on-three as they continue to search for their first win of the season.

After a tenacious effort helped the Dogs earn a point in an overtime loss in the opener of their weekend series, they struggled to find the same level in the rematch. Saskatchewan did generate a few chances in the opening period but after a couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone, a turnover in front of their own net allowed the Cougars to open the scoring as Lyndsey Janes beat Clara Juca with just over two minutes left in the frame. Juca was making her second career start in place of Colby Wilson, who was out of the lineup due to illness after a strong outing on Friday.

Special teams came to the fore in the second period. After killing the Huskies’ five-on-three in the early minutes, Mount Royal got its first power play and Friday’s overtime hero, Aliya Jomha doubled the lead at the 6:52 mark.

Saskatchewan would reply less than three minutes later when Bronwyn Boucher tipped an Avery Gottselig point shot past Cougars netminder Kate Holan, who was making her first career U SPORTS start. The assist was Gottselig’s first U SPORTS point while Boucher’s third goal of the season established a new career high for the fourth-year forward.

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But later in the period, with Jasper Desmarais serving a double minor for head contact, MRU regained its two-goal advantage on a wrister from the point by Summer Fomradas, her first career goal. The Cougars added one more insurance marker with their third power play goal of the night on a point shot by Jori Hansen-Young at 8:09 of the third period.

The Huskies were outshot 28-22 on the night with Juca making 24 saves in defeat while Holan earned her first career win with 21 stops. The Cougars are now 7-1 on the season. Saskatchewan remains winless at 0-5-3 as they return home to face the Manitoba Bisons next Friday and Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place. Friday’s contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on HuskieFAN.

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