Huskies take to ice looking for title
By Darren Zary of The StarPhoenix
On the big power play, on the big national stage, they are oh-for-six during the past decade.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies can’t help but feel they are due, or overdue, by now.
Sooner or later, somebody’s got to throw these Dogs a bone.
In six trips to the University Cup national championship during the past nine years, something has been missing. Not only have they come up short of goals — despite continually out-shooting and out-playing the opposition — the Dogs have missed out on the biggest goal of all: a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship.
“Fifteen years ago, I came here to win a national championship — that is still my goal,” says U of S head coach Dave Adolph. “I have high hopes. I’ve been there for (11 of the last 12 years) in the Canada West final. If we can get there, anything can happen.
“You’ve got to get there first.”
The journey begins Friday. The Huskies open a new Canada West season in Vancouver against the much-improved British Columbia Thunderbirds, who beat the short-staffed Dogs 4-2 in preseason tournament action in Edmonton.
Saskatchewan finished the exhibition season with a 1-4 record, its only win coming at the expense of the Calgary Dinos by a 8-2 count. The Huskies’ lineup has been riddled by injuries and line-juggling as they auditioned 11 rookies.
“We’re good enough to beat the Bears right now,” suggests Adolph, “but it’s going to be a work in progress with all our new guys. We have some guys who are hurt. We’ve got a couple of D-men who haven’t quite figured out that you have to practice before you can actually play in this game.
“We’re down a few guys but, at the same point, we held our own with 11 rookies against UBC and Alberta last weekend and we’ll do even better this weekend.”
In the bigger picture, the Huskies are focused on a trip to the 2007 University Cup national championship in Moncton, N.B. The Dogs lost just five players from last season, including goalie Thomas Vicars and four-time CIS All-Canadian and two-time CIS scoring champion Dean Beuker, along with three top Dmen, Bryce Thoma, Colin Johnson and Dean Serdachny.
Canada West all-star goalie Jeff Harvey, Canada West and CIS all-star Brent Twordik, fifth-year Keegan McAvoy, Curtis Austring, Trent Adamus, Derek Endicott and Stephen Mann are the key players among a strong returning core.
A bumper rookie crop includes G Russell Monette (Weyburn, SJHL), D Evan Schafer, (Prince Albert, WHL), F Jason Wagar (Yorkton, SJHL), F Jon Bubnick (Portland, WHL), F Colin Patterson (Prince George, WHL), F Brett Parker (Vancouver, WHL), F Brad Erickson (Spokane, WHL), F Brett Novak (Prince Albert, WHL), D Greg Park (Battlefords, SJHL) and F Dan Erlandson (Notre Dame, SJHL). The Dogs are still awaiting clearance for highly touted D-man Mark Hinz, an NCAA transfer.
Meanwhile, the defending CIS national champion Alberta Golden Bears lost 10 players — the core of their team — in the off-season.
“Always starting a new year, you’ve got a chance against anybody,” said Twordik. “The Bears lost some key guys; we’ve lost a few key guys, too. We’ve got a real good group of young guys. The overall league has gotten better so we’re definitely going to have to play some good hockey to play some of these teams.
“We tried a lot of different new things (in pre-season). I’m not really too worried about (the 1-4 record). We know we have a good team, good players and the right chemistry in the room.”
Last season, the Huskies finished with a 17-7-4 conference record and 27-11-4 record overall. They enjoyed a 13-game undefeated streak and were ranked No. 1 in the CIS Top 10 for 10 consecutive weeks.
Saskatchewan entered the 2006 Telus University Cup with a painful memory of its heart-breaking overtime loss to Alberta in the final when the Bears scored a huge come-from-behind victory after tying the game in the dying seconds. Last spring would see the Huskies defeat the No. 2 Acadia Axeman 5-1 in the first round, but then go down to the No. 3 Lakehead Thunderwolves 4-2 in the semi-final.
“There is no question our program has not met its objective in the past few years,” admits Adolph. “Just getting to the final tournament might be acceptable for some, but it is not for us. We are striving to win it. It has been a long and frustrating journey. Everyone defines success or excellence differently. Often it is done to ensure you meet your objectives. We haven’t, in my mind, met ours and will continue to chase this purpose.”
DOG TALES: Trent Adamus, the team’s top rookie two years ago, is out a minimum of 6-8 weeks with an abdomen strain . . . Assistant captain Curtis Austring will miss the opening weekend because of wedding obligations.
dzary@sp.canwest.com
