Photo courtesy: Dave Mahussier/1812 Photography/Bison Sports

By Ryan Flaherty

point slips away

Last minute comeback spoils Huskies sweep bid

Jan 18, 2025 | 8:27 PM

An unlucky bounce in the final minute of regulation proved costly as the Huskies women’s hockey team suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg.

Manitoba captain Kylie Lesuk scored the equalizer with 23.5 seconds left in the third period and potted the game winning goal in the final minute of OT as the Bisons snatched victory from the jaws of defeat while dealing a blow to the Dogs’ playoff hopes.

With the Bisons net empty for a 6-on-5 push, Lesuk’s soft backhander from the slot hit a dropped stick laying at the edge of the crease and changed directions, slipping past Huskies goaltender Colby Wilson. Then, at 4:01 of an overtime period spent almost entirely in the Saskatchewan zone, Lesuk redirected an Aimee Patrick pass into the net to complete the comeback.

The Dogs’ loss spoiled another stellar outing from Wilson, who followed up her 35-save shutout in Friday’s 2-0 win with a whopping 50 saves as Manitoba outshot Saskatchewan 53-11 including 28-2 over the third period and overtime combined.

Despite being outshot by such a wide margin, the Huskies showed their tenacity, erasing an early deficit before grabbing a 2-1 lead in the final frame. Manitoba opened the scoring 1:58 into the contest as Camryn Gillis got a point shot through but the Dogs tied it up at 8:38 with Avery Gottselig tipping home a Julianna Herman wrister for her third goal in four games.

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After a scoreless second period in which the Bisons held a 13-3 edge in shots, the Huskies jumped out front early in third. On their third power play of the night, Brownwyn Boucher deflected Brooklyn Stevely’s point shot past Emily Shippam for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Five of Boucher’s goals have come on the power play, tied for second most in the Canada West.

Despite facing wave after wave of Bisons attacks, the Dogs were on the verge of closing the deal until Lesuk’s late equalizer. Instead of pulling within eight points of Manitoba for the third and final playoff spot in the East Division, the Dogs now trail the Bisons by 11 points. Saskatchewan did get some help from out of town as Alberta blanked Regina 1-0 in regulation, dropping the Cougars two points behind Manitoba into third place. The Huskies are nine points in arrears of their provincial rivals.

The Huskies record now sits at 4-11-5 on the season, while the Bisons improved to 11-7-2. The teams will face off twice more in Winnipeg on Feb. 14 and 15, the final weekend of the regular season.

Saskatchewan will look to regroup as they head to Edmonton to take on the first place Alberta Pandas next weekend while Manitoba will be in the same city taking on the MacEwan Griffins. Regina travels to UBC.

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