Huskie hockey rookies made immediate impact
Huskies 7, Bisons 0
—SP Photo by Richard MarjanMyles Zimmer (left) of the Huskies levels with a player from the Bisons
There were plenty of firsts and bursts Saturday night at Rutherford Rink, where the University of Saskatchewan Huskies chewed up on the Manitoba Bisons to cap a Canada West conference seasonopening sweep.
One big outburst — five goals in the third period — helped the hockey Dogs cruise to a 7-0 victory.
Along the way, Saskatchewan ended a 0-for-11 drought by scoring its first two power-play goals of the regular season.
Rookies Shaun Vey, Travis Brisebois, Steven Da Silva and Zach Sim scored their first goals as Huskies in Canada West.
And, to top it off, goalie Russ Monette recorded a shutout.
“The guys played a really strong game in front of me,” said Monette. “Once the floodgates were open, it was pretty much cruise control. You couldn’t ask for a better game to start with to get into it.”
U of S head coach Dave Adolph stressed it was a good team win. “Defence leads to offence,” he said. Seven players contributed to the scoring as the Huskies improved to 2-0.
Casey Lee, Steve Gillen and Brett Parker also scored for Saskatchewan, which outshot Manitoba 27-26.
“We came out with a lot better jump,” said Gillen, who notched the team’s first power-play goal at 6:40 of the third period. “Casey scored a big goal for us right off the bat. Confidence is a game and once you get that big lead, it doesn’t hurt.”
For Parker, it was his second goal in as many nights. While his first one was a beauty, his second was a softy, proving it never hurts to shoot the puck on net.
“So far it’s been a 100 per cent — two shots on net, two goals,” said Parker, who was selected as the game’s No. 1 star. “Goals will come with hard work. Brisebois and (Jason) Wagar were really clicking.
“We’re improving every day at practice and every game we’re getting a feel of the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). With half our team being brand new, it’s a team game and we’re really starting to play like Hustlin’ Huskies.”
After an outstanding game Friday night in net for Manitoba, Steve Christie got yanked after Parker’s goal made it 3-0 at 5:03 of the third period. Christie was replaced by Gavin McHale, who allowed four more goals.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Monette and his supporting cast shut down the Bisons.
“If you only score one goal on the weekend, that’s not going to get you too many wins,” said Bisons coach Don MacGillvray.
“We had opportunities again. We’ve got to bury some chances.
“It’s never as good as it looks or as bad as it seems, but we didn’t play very well tonight. We’ll take what we can out of this game and try to build on some positives.”
After going 0-for-8 Friday in a 2-1 win, the Huskies scored on two of eight power-play chances Saturday.
“It’s just big for our club to get that first one (power-play goal),” said Gillen. “Now we’re rolling. We got one right after on the next power play, so hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.”
DOG TALES: Three stars were 1) Parker, 2) Monette and 3) U of S D-man Jesse Zetariuk .. . Rookies Sim and Mat Swaby made their regularseason debut Saturday, replacing Mark Hinz and rookie R.J. Larochelle on the blue-line. Also rotated in was Myles Zimmer for David Linsley. Rookies Jarrid Dowhay and Curtis Patterson did not get in the lineup . . . Next up for the Huskies are the University of Regina Cougars in a home-and-home series.
dzary@sp.canwest.com
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