Hockey Huskies bolster roster with newcomers

Darren Larry
The StarPhoenix

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

There were very few holes to fill in the off-season for the University of Saskatchewan hockey Huskies after winning the Canada West title before bowing out at the 2007 University Cup in Moncton, N.B.

The Dogs lose only two players. They are fifth-year graduate Keegan McAvoy, who is still pondering a pro career, and Matt Girling, who has moved on.

"That's it," head coach Dave Adolph said from Kelowna, B.C., where he was watching his son, Max, take part in the camp of the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets.

"That's all we lose and I think we got better -- we're better with all of (the new) guys."

As far as recruiting seasons go, Adolph is pleased as a Dave Schultz punch.

Top recruits include forwards Steve Gillen (captain, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL), Casey Lee (former member of WHL's Kootenay Ice, Global TV's Making the Cut participant and ECHL minor pro) and Cody Purves (Nipawin Hawks, SJHL).

The blueline has been bolstered by Jesse Zetariuk (WHL's Everett Silvertips, Red Deer Rebels).

Goalie Andrew Leslie, from the MJHL's Anavet Cup champion Selkirk Steelers, will add depth in net.

Adolph was hoping to recruit former Saskatoon Contacts blueliner Jason Fransoo, but the Battlefords product appears headed to the rival University of Alberta Golden Bears

As it turns out, the off-season player hunt wasn't as critical once the Dogs found out that standout D-man Derek Endicott and goalie Jeff Harvey were returning for one more season.

"What worked out is that Derek Endicott decided that he was coming back," Adolph noted. "That's a bonus. He's one of the best players in the league."

Adolph is expecting a handful of junior A players also trying out when camp opens next week.

"There are a whole bunch of guys," he said, "who have phoned me and asked me if they could play."

One of them is defenceman Ryan Riley, a former Alberta Junior Hockey League player. "He tried out two years ago, then went down to the NCAA on a baseball/hockey scholarship," Adolph said. "He sat out last season. He was going to go the U of C but he got into engineering here."

Other camp hopefuls include SJHLers David Holinaty (D), Scott Collier (D), Liam Walker and Trenton Moore (F).

Camp will start earlier than usual.

"If this was a normal year, we'd start on the 10th of September, but our first league games are in that last week of September spot (28-29), and we're going to a small little tournament (Sept. 15-16) in Dawson, Man., hosted by the University of Manitoba with Regina, ourselves and NAIT."

After taking care of the U of A Golden Bears in the Canada West final at Edmonton, the Huskies failed to take care of business out at CIS nationals in Moncton. They skated with jet-lag legs in their tournament-opening 2-1 loss to the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds, who went on to win the University Cup national title.

"For me, I can honestly say that, for the first time in 12 years, I feel there is unfinished business," Adolph said. "I didn't like the way we finished at nationals. Other years, I've been, like, whatever, lucky breaks, bad bounce or we didn't play well.

"It's been bugging me since March 28."

DOG TALES: The Huskie Hockey Classic pre-season tournament will be played Sept. 21-22 with the Regina Cougars, Alberta Golden Bears, Calgary Dinos, Manitoba Bisons and SAIT Trojans in town. "And the next weekend after that, we start for real against Regina."

dzary@sp.canwest.com

TOP RECRUITS

Steve Gillen -- forward

Casey Lee -- forward

Cody Purves -- forward

Jesse Zetariuk -- defence

Andrew Leslie -- goalie

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007