Huskies and Golden Bears fight to a draw

Even though it was a meaningless game, the University of Alberta Golden Bears and University of Saskatchewan Huskies fought to the bitter end.

Down by a goal with eight seconds left in the third period, Huskies veteran Trent Adamus batted the puck past Golden Bear goalie Aaron Sorochan to tie the game at four in the final game of the Huskie Hockey Classic tournament.

“It was a pretty good game for a non-conference who cares kind of cup,” said Huskies head coach Dave Adolph. “It was two good teams in a battle to the end.”

The game moved into a five-minute overtime period but 4-4 is where the game stayed.

The third period is where the action was six goals between the two teams in the frame. Mason Wallin scored the other three goals in the game for the Huskies. Dylan Stanley scored in the second period for the Golden Bears and Brian Woolger, Chad Klassen and Harlon Anderson scored in the third.

Jeff Harvey and Russell Monette stopped 51 shots for the Huskies and Sorochan made 28 for the Golden Bears.

The Huskie Classic was a six-team preseason tournament held at Saskatoon’s Jemini Arena and wrapped up Saturday.

Other scores from the Saturday’s games: SAIT Trojans lost to the Regina Cougars 5-2 and the Calgary Dinos downed the Manitoba Bisons 8-3.

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

14 Time Canada West Champions

Alumni Golf Tournament- Thursday, July 5

The eighth annual Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament will take place at the Willows Golf and Country Club on Thursday, July 5. This is an excellent fundraiser for Huskie Hockey and an excellent chance to come socialize with past and present players.

Format
* 135.00 per player
(golf, cart, supper, gift, beverage)
* Texas Scramble – submit
your own teams of three.
(Note: two threesomes will play on each hole.)
* Two long drive holes.
* Two closest to the pin holes.
* Driving Range included.
* Supper @ 6:15 p.m.
* Prize Presentation and Social
to follow.
Tee/Green Sponsors and Teams of three discounts. Phone for details.

All money raised will go into the “Dog” Hockey Alumni Fund. Thank you for your involvement in making this tournament an annual event.

For more information:
Dan Leier
(306) 374-3839
or
Shannon Briske
(306) 260-1441
or
Trevor Winkler
(306) 373-4621

DOGS ON ICE HOCKEY BOOK

After the public book reading at McNally Robinson's in Saskatoon, the
new Dogs on Ice hockey books continue to sell...

Dogs On Ice: A History of Hockey at University of Saskatchewan
Published By: Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and "Friends
of the Huskies"
Write/editor Michael P.J. Kennedy and project coordinator Bill Seymour

97 Years of Huskies Hockey History Brought Alive in a New Book. Over
270 pages of Canadian university hockey history with emphasis on 97
years of Huskie hockey history. Over 70 photographs, all-time,
year-by-year rosters, annual award winners, special award winners,
yearly statistics, plus feature chapters on women's hockey on campus,
the rinks, those who went on to the professional ranks, and those who
have achieved success in society.

On sale for $40 (GST included), plus $8.50 for mail orders.
100% of the proceeds goes to Huskies Hockey and towards a Huskie Hockey
Scholarship.
Available at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon, University of Saskatchewan
Bookstore and other campus outlets, by phoning 306-374-9061, or by
mailing Huskie Hockey Book, University of Saskatchewan, Room 222, 87
Campus Drive, Saskatoon SK, S7N 5B2.

HULAKS MOURN PASSING

Alina Maria Hulak, mother of two prominent Saskatoon hockey players, diedTuesday after a brave battle with cancer। She was 48. Her youngest child, Derek, is a forward with the Saskatoon Blades. The Regina Pats respectfully traded the 17year-old winger to his hometown Blades in January so that he could be close to his mother. Alina Hulak is also survived by her husband Jozef,son Daniel and daughter Michelle. Dan, the eldest, played four seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies after a four-year Western Hockey League career with Swift Current and Portland.The funeral service for Alina Hulak is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church (301 Ave.Y S).

Leave a Message for the Dogs & Listen to the Huskies on Hot 93 FM or watch on the Net

Are you behind the Dogs at Nationals???? Send a message to the Hockey Dogs to let them know you're behind them. These guys are playing for the University of Saskatchewan the City of Saskatoon and the Province of Saskatchewan. Let's show them that you are behind them all the way!!!

Go to the right column and leave your message!! The dogs will get them before the game.

Mention this website to everyone you know!! And urge them to leave a message.

Please forward to all the Dog supporters and everyone you know in or from Saskatchewan!!!

Get your kids and their classes etc to send a message and forward this on to everyone you
know!

CIS UNIVERSITY CUP: Listen live to Huskies hockey



Hot93 airing Huskies hockey games in Moncton

All University of Saskatchewan Huskies games at the CIS University Cup in Moncton, New Brunswick will air live on Hot93. Play-by-play Les Lazaruk and colour commentator Dave Thomas.

In addition, beginning Wednesday morning, listen to Dave on the Hot93 morning show and Les on the sports show live from the lobby of the University Cup championship hotel, the Crowne Plaza, in Moncton.

All seven games of the 2007 Canadian Interuniversity Sport Men's Ice Hockey Championship will be seen on the Internet at the following Web-site address events.startcast.com/events/launch.asp?EventID=1A5BAE55-BF9E-4F9E-B23B-82B25D7B381E .



Turn your dial to 92.9 or log on to www.hot93.com

Thursday, March 22
14:00 Pool B #1: Saskatchewan vs. UNB - Live on Hot93
19:00 Pool A #1: Laurier vs. StFX

Friday, March 23
14:00 Pool B #2: UQTR vs. Loser Pool B #1
19:00 Pool A #2: Moncton vs. Loser Pool A #1

Saturday, March 24
12:30 Pool B #3: UQTR vs. Winner Pool B #1 (Live on TSN)
20:00 Pool A #3: Moncton vs. Winner Pool A #1 (Live on TSN)

Sunday, March 25
20:00 Championship final (Live on TSN & RDS)

POST A MESSAGE FOR THE DOGS!
Give a personalized message to the Huskies while they are Moncton. Go to:
www.huskiehockey.com

The Dogs on the Rocks

Huskies eliminated at nationals after consecutive one-goal losses
UQTR 3, Saskatchewan 2

MONCTON, N.B. — The hockey Huskies are finished because they had no finish. Despite outshooting the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres Patriotes 42-23 and playing most of the game in UQTR’s end, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies found themselves on the short end of the stick Friday as they dropped a 3-2 decision before 3,992 fans at the Moncton Coliseum.

As a result of their second straight loss, the Dogs were eliminated from the Cavendish University Cup national championship tournament.

“We had a lot more opportunities to score than we did (Thursday against New Brunswick) and we just lacked a little finish in the second period,” said U of S head coach Dave Adolph. “I really don’t know how that puck stayed out.” The Dogs totally owned the second period, outshooting the Patriotes 19-0 at one point — and those were only the shots that managed to hit the net. They were another 19 or so that misfired.

UQTR did not register a shot on net in the second period until the final 30 seconds. Even so, the Patriotes hit the goalsheet hard with the winner, on the power play, at the end of the period. A deflected dribbler went through the pads of a screened Saskatchewan goalie Jeff Harvey to make it 3-2 for UQTR at 19:44. It was Tommy Lafontaine’s first goal of the season.

“The bottom line is I’ve got to stop pucks,” said Harvey, who was barely tested and made 20 saves. “It would have been a lot easier if I was a little more tested, but it’s no excuse.

“Their goalie, everything seemed to hit him and we couldn’t get a puck past him. That’s just the way games go sometimes. For us, it seems to happen too often. Last year at nationals, the same thing happened. The puck didn’t go in. We’ve got to find a way to do that. If you don’t go to the front of the net and go to the greasy areas, you’re not going to get goals.”

Danny Dallaire was tested time and time again in net for UQTR.

“I saw most of the shots,” said Dallaire, who made 40 saves. “When I can see the puck and my defencemen clear the rebounds, we are a very tough to beat.” Things couldn’t have started much worse for the Huskies. Just 49 seconds in, Keegan McAvoy was assessed a roughing penalty following a scrum and two-way pushing match along the boards. A little over a minute later, 6-foot-2 defenceman Evan Schafer delivered a crushing bodycheck on a shorter UQTR player, who ducked on the play. Schafer was called for checking to the head, giving the Patriots a two-man advantage. They capitalized 18 seconds later with a power-play goal by Nicholas Desilets.

At 5:49, UQTR went up 2-0 thanks to an even-strength goal by Jonathan Boutin, who cashed in on a rebound.

The Dogs answered right back, first with a power-play goal by McAvoy, who pounced on a rebound off the back boards, and then an even-strength marker by McAvoy at 14:47. That knotted the score at 2-2 going into the second period.

“It’s not our best game of the year, but it’s not necessarily the best team, but we are the winning team,” said UQTR coach Jacques Laporte.

UQTR plays the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds today to determine the Pool B winner.

In the other game Friday, Moncton defeated St. FX 5-3. Moncton plays Laurier today, with the winner advancing to the final Sunday (5 p.m., TSN).

“(Thursday) our energy level wasn’t good,” said Adolph. “That’s the first time I’ve seen sort of a flat effort from my teaminalong,longtime.Ourenergywasprettygoodtonight. We played a much better game. We had ample opportunities on the power play to make a difference.”

UQTR was 2-for-7 on the power play. Saskatchewan was 1-for-9.

“They found a way to put that puck in the net on the power play,” Adolph said. “That was the difference, definitely.”

dzary@sp.canwest.com

Hockey Dogs fall flat...

UNB wins 2-1
Mar 22


Moncton, NB - It was't the way the University of Saskatchewan Huskies wanted to open the 2007 CIS University Cup. In their first meeting since the Huskies lost a heartbreaker in 2000, the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds kept their perfect record against the Dogs at Nationals by virtue of a 2-1 win Thursday afternoon. If the Huskies want to have any chance of making it to the final now they will have to win their game tomorrow afternoon against UQTR and hope then that on Saturday afternoon UQTR beats the University of New Brunswick.

Game 1: 2007 CIS men’s hockey championship
Boyce, Ouzas lift V-Reds over No. 2 Huskies in opener

MONCTON (CIS) – Darryl Boyce’s power play goal midway through the second period proved the difference as the fifth-seeded University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds edged the No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies 2-1 in front of 3,556 fans in the opener of the CIS men’s hockey championship at the Moncton Coliseum, on Thursday afternoon.

Cavensish University Cup web site: www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_hockey/2007

Boyce, a six-foot, 205-pound forward from Summerside, P.E.I. roofed a one-timer glove side past Saskatchewan netminder Jeff Harvey after accepting a pass from Dustin Friesen (Waldheim, Sask.) to break a 1-1 tie 10:40 into the middle frame, while Matt Girling (Saskatoon) was in the penalty box for kneeing.

“It was actually a broken play. The puck hit a stick before it got to me,” said Boyce, who helped Canada claim the gold medal at the Winter Universiade in Italy in January. “I just let it go as quick and as hard as I could.”

“We weren’t satisfied after losing the AUS final in two games to Moncton,” continued Boyce, named player of the game for UNB. “We looked at this weekend as a brand new three-game tournament. We are totally re-focused.”

The Huskies (0-1), who eliminated two-time defending national champion Alberta in the Canada West final, now face a must-win situation Friday at 2 p.m. (AT) when they face the No. 3 UQTR Patriotes (0-0) in their second and final Pool B round-robin duel. The V-Reds (1-0) will battle UQTR Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (AT), live on TSN.

It marked the second dual in history between the two programs at the University Cup tournament. UNB won 5-4 in overtime in pool play in 2000.

“I wouldn’t call it a good first game, I’d call it a great first game. Good is not good enough at this time of year,” said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “2-1, 5-1, it makes no difference. It’s a W and we’ll take it.”

“We moved the puck really well, starting with Jessie (Ferguson). He was once again a leader for us out there,” added MacDougall, who was an assistant coach with the Universiade team in Italy.

“It’s my third time at the Nationals and it’s never a good thing to lose your first game,” remarked Ferguson, a fifth-year defenseman from Langley, B.C. “I don’t remember many teams losing their opener and advancing to the final.”

Saskatchewan had a 29-23 edge in shots on goal but went 0-6 with the man advantage, while UNB converted one of eight opportunities.

“We just didn’t play really well today, simple as that,” commented Saskatchewan bench boss Dave Adolph, a co-captain with the Huskies when the team claimed its lone University Cup in Moncton in 1983. “With this round-robin format, now we have to think about goal differential tomorrow against UQTR.”

Saskatchewan opened the scoring 9:25 into the match when freshman Brett Parker (Melville, Sask.) fooled a screened Michael Ouzas (Hamilton) from the top of the right face-off circle.

UNB responded 6:06 later while playing shorthanded when rookie Joshua Hepditch (Fredericton) sent Denny Johnston on a partial breakaway. The fourth-year forward from Rosetown, Sask. made no mistake, beating Harvey with a backhander on the stick side.

“Denny is a Saskatchewan guy, he played with a lot of pride today. His goal was the turning point,” said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall.

Following Boyce’s eventual game-winning tally, the Varsity Reds dominated the remainder of the second frame and had a number of chances to increase their lead, but Harvey’s heroics kept the Huskies in the match.

The sophomore goalie stoned Robert Pearce (Fredericton) on a breakaway with 6:42 left in the stanza, and was back at it 17 seconds later stopping a backhand from up close from second-team All-Canadian forward Rob Hennigar (Jordan, Ont.), who was left all alone in front of him.

UNB had another glorious chance with 3:46 remaining but Harvey deflected a high shot from 15 feet out from fifth-year veteran Nick Marach (Delta, B.C.).

Five minutes and 11 seconds into the third period, Nathan O’Nabigon (Thunder Bay, Ont.) had the last real chance to send the AUS finalist in front by 3-1 but once again Harvey was up to the task, stopping the third-year forward on a breakaway with a spectacular glove save, four seconds after Huskie teammate Derek Endicott had left the penalty box.

The Huskies dominated the rest of the way but couldn’t buy the equalizer.

Right after Harvey’s save on O’Nabigon, Saskatchewan bombarded Ouzas with five shots during back-to-back power plays but couldn’t tie the affair.

Rookie forward Colin Patterson (Saskatoon), who assisted on Parker’s goal, earned player-of-the-game honours for the Huskies.

SCORING SUMMARY

UNB 2, Saskatchewan 1

FIRST PERIOD

SCORING:

1. SAS Brett Parker (1) (Colin Patterson, Jason Wagar), 9:25
2. UNB Denny Johnston (1) (Joshua Hepditch), 15:33 SH

PENALTIES:

Denny Johnston (UNB) 10-minute misconduct, 0:00; Keegan McAvoy (SAS) 10-minute misconduct, 0:00; Darryl Boyce (UNB) holding, 1:52; Matt Girling (SAS) cross-checking, 5:48; Brad Erickson (SAS) hooking, 12:30; Nathan O’Nabigon (UNB) interference, 14:43; Jeff Schmidt (SAS) checking to the head, 19:42; Jeff Schmidt (SAS) 10-minute misconduct, 19:42.

SECOND PERIOD

SCORING:

3. UNB Darryl Boyce (Dustin Friesen, Jessie Ferguson)

PENALTIES:

John Scott Dickson (UNB) tripping, 5:08; Matt Girling (SAS) interference, 6:17; Matt Girling (SAS) kneeing, 8:53; Jeff Schmidt (SAS) hooking, 13:40; Derek Endicott (SAS) tripping, 17:24; Brad Efthimiou (UNB) holding the stick, 18:02.

THIRD PERIOD

SCORING:

No scoring.

PENALTIES:

Stacy Smallman (UNB) interference, 1:03; Derek Endicott (SAS) roughing, 3:07; David Bowman (UNB) slashing, 5:31; Rob Hennigar (UNB) tripping, 7:44.

GOALS (by period)
UNB: 1-1-0:2
SAS: 1-0-0:1

SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
UNB: 8-12-3: 23
SAS: 13-8-8:29

POWER PLAY:
UNB: 1-8
SAS: 0-6

GOALTENDERS
UNB – Michael Ouzas (W, 29 shots, 28 saves, 60:00)
SAS – Jeff Harvey (L, 23 shots, 21 saves, 60:00)

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
UNB: Darryl Boyce
SAS: Colin Patterson

REFEREE: Brad Mills

LINESMEN: Matt McPherson, Jeff MacDonald

ATTENDANCE: 3,556

SEEDINGS, POOLS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times LOCAL / AT)

Pool A
No. 1 Moncton (0-0)
No. 4 Laurier (0-0)
No. 6. StFX (0-0)

Pool B
No. 5. UNB (1-0)
No. 3. UQTR (0-0)
No. 2. Saskatchewan (0-1)

Thursday, March 22
Pool B #1: UNB 2, Saskatchewan 1
19:00 Pool A #1: Laurier vs. StFX

Friday, March 23
14:00 Pool B #2: UQTR vs. Saskatchewan
19:00 Pool A #2: Moncton vs. Loser Pool A #1

Saturday, March 24
12:30 Pool B #3: UQTR vs. UNB (Live on TSN)
20:00 Pool A #3: Moncton vs. Winner Pool A #1 (Live on TSN)

Sunday, March 25
20:00 Championship final (Live on TSN & RDS)

NOTE: All games available through webcasting at http://events.startcast.com/events/launch.asp?EventID=1A5BAE55-BF9E-4F9E-B23B-82B25D7B381E

All Huskies games will air live on Hot93. Turn your dial to 92.9 or log on to www.hot93.com

Leaders of the pack

MONCTON, N.B. —The hockey Huskies are playing follow the leader. They believe their leadership group — led by team captain Brent Twordik and assistants Keegan McAvoy and Curtis Austring — is second to none.

Each of the trio is a former captain in the Western Hockey League. There are six Huskies in total who were once WHL captains: Twordik (Swift Current Broncos), McAvoy (Kamloops Blazers), Austring (Regina Pats), Brett Dickie (Prince George Cougars), Stephen Mann (Saskatoon Blades) and rookie Myles Zimmer (Prince George).

All but Zimmer have played in the past two University Cup national championship tournaments. This year’s event — which kicks off 11 a.m. Thursday with the No. 2-seeded University of Saskatchewan Huskies playing the Atlantic runner-up University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds — is the third for 11 Huskie players. It’s the proverbial hat-trick. The leadership has become so good that U of S head coach Dave Adolph admits that the Dogs often run on auto pilot or cruise control.

“Some years ago I sort of empowered the team to the leaders to basically run the team,” says Adolph. “It was (sports psychology consultant) Ralph Schoenfeld’s idea. Anything I have a concern with, or an issue, or if I want to change the forecheck or systems, I would always talk to whoever first.

“We used to meet every Monday with captains and go over the week or rehash the week before to try and get the program operating that way. These last three years, we don’t even meet. Every now and then, they bug me because it’s maybe my turn to buy lunch, but that’s about it.”

During the past three years, some hard hockey lessons have been learned. A national championship was ripped away from the Dogs with only 23 seconds

Darren Zary left in the 2005 Telus University Cup in Edmonton when the host University of Alberta Golden Bears scored the tying goal and then went on to win in overtime.

Last year, it looked like a potential repeat final between Alberta and Saskatchewan, but the Huskies lacked finish against Lakehead University despite badly out-playing the Thunderwolves. Lakehead ended up losing by one goal to Alberta in the national final.

“It just builds character,” says Twordik. “The old saying of ‘whatever kills you makes your stronger.’We’ve been there. We’ve had the heartbreaks. We know what it takes to get to the final and we know what it takes to win the championship.

“We’ve seen a few of those teams before. Systems-wise, we probably didn’t remember too much about them, but you’ve got the same coaches and a few of the same players. They’re pretty much the same teams.”

For the older players on the team, two years of defeat has intensified their hunger and resolve.

“Definitely the first loss was the biggest to Alberta. It still eats at you,” says Twordik. “Until you win one, it probably won’t go away or if it ever does go away.

“It would definitely help my mind to win a national championship.” It didn’t happen last year, either. “There’s tons of confidence in the room. It comes from the leadership, guys that have been there, and the young guys, too, who don’t really know what they’re getting into. They’re just playing and doing everything they can to experience that,” says Twordik.

“It’s a combination of having the old guys with the young guys and working towards that same goal.”

Adolph feels his team is in good hands with Twordik, McAvoy and Austring. They are as much different as they are the same.

“With our captain, Twordik, everything’s is on a mission with him,” Adolph says. “When it’s time to get going and things need to be done, Twordik’s a guy.

“Keegan’s a fierce competitor but he looks after absolutely everybody on our team, off-ice, socially, or if they’re in trouble, or if somebody is squirreling around afterhours, Mac takes care of it.

“Then you’ve got Curtis Austring, who easily is the best leader that we’ve ever had in terms of all facets. Aussie’s the man of common sense. If maybe one of the two other guys is riled up over something, Oz sorts it out.

“We’ve always had good leaders here, but these three guys have different sort of personalities and they all sort of complement each other.

“I basically do what they tell me to do.”

dzary@sp.canwest.com

Dogs welcome back former trainer

Darren Zary at the University Cup

Peter Herd prefers to be seen but not heard now that he’s back with the University of Saskatchewan hockey Huskies as a mentor for their young training staff.

“These are the guys that got them there, putting up with long nights and goofy road trips,” says Herd, pointing his finger to a group of young student trainers led by head equipment manager Brett McCorkell, 21.

“I’m just a calming influence in the background. It’s a great bunch of guys. They’re all willing to go the extra mile and that impresses me. I’m really thankful to be able to help out.”

Herd — who began with the Dogs in 1986 but sat out the last four years “raising children (now ages six and nine) and doing the parenting thing” — is making his sixth trip to nationals.

For the Huskies, it’s their seventh journey to nationals in the last 10 years and 12th overall.

“I was there when we lost to Trois-Rivieres in the (1987) final at Edmonton,” said Herd. “That was my first year — 20 years ago.

“When Tyler was three or four months old, we won the Canada West championship (in 2000) and he was sitting right there in his baby’s seat on the trainer’s table on Sunday afternoon when we won the whole thing.”

In real life, Herd works as a community peace officer (AKA campus cop) on the U of S campus.

“Coach (Dave Adolph) gave me a call in December and asked me for a bit of help because of one of the fellows (McCorkell) had an opportunity to help out another team (SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos). He asked me if I could come in and help.

“It’s been that way since December, but just in the background.”

Herd said he expected to be there all night Sunday, getting everything set and packed, before the team left by bus from Rutherford Rink at 4:45 a.m. for Saskatoon Airport.

Herd left for Moncton, N.B., early Wednesday morning.

“There’s quite a bit of work, just getting all the equipment there and making sure everything is there,” Herd said, adding that the team has to be prepared if it somehow loses something in transit.

“Sometime you do, so you have to split it all up. In the event that you do lose one (bag), you can make the adjustment and get stuff ready. I’ve been fortunate, with Canada West, that I’ve managed to do a Japan trip (Nagano Cup), an Italy trip (World University Games) and a few other trips.”

McCorkell is the head trainer and equipment manager for a volunteer group which includes student trainers Tyler Judd, Marc Pesant, Jeff Hamm, Mark Walkner and Sheldon Wright.

This is McCorkell’s third trip to the University Cup in three years.

“They’ve been working hard all year,” McCorkell said. “It started off a little tough at the start of the season in exhibition but they’ve really turned it on the last few weeks to make it where we are right now.

“Hopefully they can finish off this year unlike two years ago when they lost with 23 seconds left.”

McCorkell, a former goalie in the Saskatoon minor hockey system, got a call-up for a paying gig with the SJHL’s Broncos.

“I went there Boxing Day and came back a week in January,” McCorkell said. “It was a good experience going there. (Former Huskie student trainer) Chico (Ramandeep Dhanjal) went to Germany with the Canadian women’s under-22 team.

“It was kind of a different group of guys and a little different set-up.”

McCorkell is glad to have Herd on board as a mentor.

“He knows pretty well everything,” McCorkell said. “There’s a lot I can learn from him. I’ll soak up what I can while I’m here.

“We haven’t had any problems yet when we’ve flown. Hopefully we can go one more without getting anything lost.”

With a group of seven on the training staff, it’s a lot different than the limited help Herd had 20 years ago.

“But one of those trainers is now in the NHL — Troy (Parchman) is in Chicago (with the Blackhawks),” Herd points out.

“It’s been a great journey for me. I’ve met lots, been lots, traveled lots and had a good time. We’re certainly going to make sure that everything is as prepared as it can be for the players to do their thing.

“At the University Cup, we’ve been prepared as anybody but things didn’t work out. I was in Edmonton (for two University Cup tournament), three in Saskatoon, one in Kitchener. Hopefully this is it and we win it all.”

Shades of ’83

Huskies look to last national championship team for inspiration Not only are they hockey Dogs, they are copy cats. The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are leading double lives as they pursue gold at the Cavendish University Cup national championship tournament this week in Moncton, N.B.

Even though most of them weren’t even born in 1983 when Saskatchewan captured its only university national hockey championship, each member of the team has the job of representing one of the Hustlin’ Huskies from ’83.

Underneath their hockey gear, they don white-and-green Moncton ’83 T-shirts to honour the national championship squad. On the backs of the shirts are the names of the old Dogs.

Rookie defenceman Evan Schafer pushes down his shoulder pads to reveal a shirt with the name Adolph on the back. That would be Dave Adolph, a defenceman on the club in 1983 and head coach of the Huskies for the last 14 seasons.

“He’s even sitting in my old stall,” Adolph says. “He passes better than me. He takes fewer penalties and doesn’t yap as much.”

Says Schafer: “The guys are giving me jabs in the room a little bit here and there.

“(The T-shirt idea) is really good. It’s something special. The big thing is to draw from it, take what they accomplished and hopefully apply it to us. Hopefully, we can bring it home.”

Although he played a part in the Huskies’ success in 1983 as an assistant captain, Adolph says he had nothing to do with the T-shirt theme. That’s the brainchild of captains Curtis Austring, Keegan McAvoy and Brent Twordik, along with goalie Jeff Harvey. The foursome came up with the idea at the back of the team bus at the end of the regular season.

“We were like, ‘What are we going to do for a playoff theme for everybody to get their heads around?’ ” McAvoy says. “It dawned on us that we had the possibility of going back to Moncton, the last place the Huskies had won. The alumni is an important part of our organization, so we thought it would be kind of nice that not only are we playing for each other on the ice, we’re playing for Huskie hockey. We’re much more than the 26 players on our roster; we’re also an alumni group, our trainers, our doctors, people who come to our games and support us.

“It was kind of cool when we were handing out the shirts. Dave was giving a rendition on every single guy. It was kind of neat the stories that somebody will keep from a national championship team. We see how important they are for (Adolph) because, for every guy, he had a long story.”

McAvoy, at 26, is the team’s oldest player. He was a two-year-old toddler when the Dogs won in ’83.

Seven Huskies were born that year: Scott Roy, Brett Dickie, Trent Adamus, Alekcei McAvoy, Derek Endicott, Stephen Mann and Harvey.

The Moncton T-shirts are part of the whole team-of-destiny theme, which the 2007 squad has adopted.

“We’re using everything that will work in our favour,” says Keegan McAvoy. “Other than that, we’re going to play our butts off like we have so far. Nobody quits on this team.”

After the Dogs won the Canada West conference title two weeks ago in Edmonton, McAvoy got a call from Dan Leier, who leads the Huskies alumni group.

“Danny Leier told me, ‘Maybe one day somebody will be wearing your shirt going into the playoffs.’ I thought that would be pretty cool.”

Zimmer’s road leads to U of S

DARREN ZARY

It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for Myles Zimmer. First, he attended the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks’ rookie training camp in late summer. Then, after returning to Saskatoon for what turned out to be an abbreviated stay at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies’ training camp, he signed a minor-league contract with the Ducks organization.

At Christmas time, he decided to return to the U of S and, by doing so, did not lose any of his Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) eligibility.

Admittedly, CIS hockey has been a tough adjustment for the former Prince George Cougars captain who hails from Tisdale.

“Definitely it’s a bit of an adjustment to what I’m used to, just playing on weekends,” says Zimmer, a rugged forward who won a national midget hockey championship with the Tisdale Trojans. “But it’s worked all right. It’s a great team, a great group of guys.

“They’ve accepted everybody well. (Defenceman) Cole (Simpson) came at Christmas, too. It’s pretty easy to walk into a team like this and be a part of it.”

Zimmer plays a part just like everybody on the team’s 26-man roster. However, only 20 of those guys are allowed each game. Six will sit.

At times, Zimmer — who had 20 goals and 12 assists in the Western Hockey League last season — has sat out.

An apparent injury to his oblique muscle during the final weekend of the regular season slowed him down, but Zimmer was back to do his part for the final two games of the Canada West final in Edmonton.

“In Myles’ case, he still hasn’t really found his niche in our league,” says U of S coach Dave Adolph. “It’s a real difficult thing to come back at Christmas time and try to blend into any team, let alone a college team that doesn’t play too many games.

“Myles has found the practice-to-play ratio a little difficult and I’m sure combining academics is another one. He was a healthy scratch Friday night in Alberta, but he made his presence known Saturday night. That’s what he does. He’s a physical player with lots of energy.”

As the Dogs head to Moncton, N.B., early Monday morning for the 2007 Cavendish University Cup national hockey championship tournament, Zimmer is amazed by the team’s talent up front.

“Our depth is unbelievable,” he says. “One of the hardest parts, every night, is who’s going to be in the lineup. Our depth is one of the best I’ve seen on a hockey club. There are great players on the third or fourth lines battling for spots every night.”

Only the coaching staff knows who will be in the lineup Thursday when the Hockey Huskies play the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the tournament opener.

“Nobody’s really got a saved spot,” Zimmer says. “If you lose a game, you’re usually going to see changes. If you get in the lineup and win, it usually stays the same.

“It adds a little competitiveness in practice. Every night, you go and it gets most of the guys that way. When you do get a chance to get into the lineup, everybody wants to prove something that they belong to stay. That works out as a pretty big positive for us.”

Zimmer says he has no regrets leaving the minor pro ranks for now.

“It’s great to come to a team and win a (CW) championship with that team,” he says. “It’s great to be accepted like this and to be let into a team like this and be a part of it and go to nationals and try to win the championship.” It’s a special bunch, too, and Zimmer knows it. “The drive to get it — you notice it from the older guys who have been around before and have gone to nationals before; their drive to want this, they’re so determined to get it — is special.

“That showed (last week) in Alberta and I’m sure we’re going to carry it in to Moncton.’ ” The key in Moncton? “Doing the exact same thing as in Alberta. We’ve got to believe we can do it, play physical and let fate take its course. If we play our game and believe the way we do, we should do pretty good out there.”

dzary@sp.canwest

SEE VIDEO CLIPS BELOW AND ON VIDEO LINK!!!!!!!!

Dogs’ Erickson a work in progress

By Darren Zary of The StarPhoenix

He’s Ricky the Rookie and Brad Erickson is made well aware of it.

“You know who this guy is?” chides University of Saskatchewan assistant coach Troy Walkington, wondering if a reporter is confused about which player he is talking to.

“You’re talking to Ricky? Why are you talking to him? Are you sure you want to talk to him?” They laugh. Erickson spent the early part of the season skating through a period of adjustment. Now, the rookie centre is one of the most improved players on the Huskies heading to the Cavendish University Cup national hockey championship, March 22-25, in Moncton, N.B.

Changes style

Once on the fringe, Erickson has become a regular face in the lineup.

“Brad had to change his game to suit the Huskie hockey program and, more in particular, the coach,” says Huskies head coach Dave Adolph. “I know it hasn’t been a comfortable change for him. But, to his credit, he’s played pretty well this (second) half.”

Erickson gives the Dogs additional depth down the middle, plus a youthful injection as one of 11 rookies on the 26-man roster.

“We’ve got a lot of depth,” Erickson says. “A lot of the old guys have been playing here three or four years. They’re doing a great job. My role is just to create energy, like a third-line player does.

“We’ve got the team that could win a championship. We’ve got a lot of talent.” The key? “It comes down to hard work. You can’t underestimate any team. “It’s going to be good.” As good as the Canada West conference final against the Alberta Golden Bears?

“Now that was fantastic,” Erickson says. “I never played in a best-of-three before, but it’s really quick, fast-paced. There were a lot of bodies flying. It was awesome to beat those guys. I was pretty pumped.”

Good mix

The Dogs’ first game at nationals is Thursday at 12 noon against the New Brunswick Varsity Reds.

“Dave’s been talking about it (nationals) since the start of the season,” Erickson says. “We achieved what we wanted to do. All the young guys have done a really good job.

“I haven’t had anything quite like this since I went to the Royal Bank Cup with Humboldt (Broncos in 2003 at Charlottetown, P.E.I. as an affiliate player from the Saskatoon midget AAA Blazers).

“We had a lot of old guys and experience, just like this team. These guys have tasted it before. They lost the (national) final two years ago in Alberta, so these guys are hungry.”

Erickson will do his best to stay in the lineup.

“It starts in practice,” he says. “Troy (Walkington) kicks me in the butt every practice to keep my feet moving.”

It’s full speed ahead now, moving to the Big Show in Moncton.

dzary@sp.canwest.com

Coach’s pep talk has team in stitches

Asa regular feature, StarPhoenix sports reporter Cory Wolfe gets personal with a sports figure. Today, University of Saskatchewan hockey player Brent Twordik gets cornered. The Huskies open the national tournament next Thursday in Moncton, N.B.


The SP: According to your bio, you were a go-kart champion as a boy and you’ve won multiple curling club championships since 2003. Is there anything you can’t do?


Twordik: ( Laughs) Well, I think the boys were having a little bit of fun with me on our resumés this year. Somebody must have fudged it. I’m going to say it was (teammate Keegan) McAvoy.


The SP: Name something that proves you’re all about westside Saskatoon.


Twordik: The ’82 Rampage that I drove from the age of 16 to 20.


The SP: ( Laughs) Few teammates have been able to coax you off the ice during the final five minutes of a close game. Even coach Dave Adolph has given up. Says Adolph: “If he’s tired and there’s a faceoff in the defensive zone, he’ll go back and lean on the dasherboard like a stubborn dog that won’t come.” What happened to 30-second shifts?


Twordik: ( Smiles) I do what I think is best for the team and sometimes I think I know better than Dave.


The SP: You played five seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. Name a WHL foe that you still can’t stand.


Twordik: Vern Fiddler, who now plays in the NHL (with the Nashville Predators). He was a guy I really didn’t like to play against when he was in Medicine Hat especially.


The SP: Hockey broadcasters always have plenty of advice for “the kids at home.” What’s yours?


Twordik: The main thing is a shot. If you have a shot, you can play.


The SP: Your idol is Skeletor, the arch-enemy of HeMan. What’s up with that?


Twordik: Again, that’s fun and games from the boys. Real idol? Cam Neely.


The SP: Describe a memorable pep talk from a hockey coach.


Twordik: (While playing with the Broncos) we were in Kootenay. Our coach was Todd McLellan, who’s now an assistant coach with Detroit. We took a penalty late in the period. They tied the game and we went into overtime. He came in and kicked the garbage can and broke his toe. Then he punched the wall. He didn’t break anything up top, but his arm was in a sling the next day.


The SP: What are the best and worst things about Rutherford Rink?


Twordik: The best thing is nobody wants to come play here. The worst thing is that we really don’t want to play here, either.


The SP: ( Laughs) That’s very funny. Who should play the love interest in a movie about your life?


Twordik: Whoa . . . Well, she’s gotta be blonde. Name some blondies. The SP: Your taste is your taste, man. Twordik: OK. I’ll go with Liz Hurley.


TheSP: ( Laughs) That was a pretty wild ride you just took me on. Name one day from your childhood that you’d like to relive.


Twordik: The day my next-door neighbour smashed my Toronto Blue Jays batting helmet. The SP: She’s not blonde. Twordik: Nope. I’ll take her, though. The SP: You’d like to relive that? Twordik: Yeah, because maybe I could’ve done something back to him instead of just crying and going home.


cwolfe@sp.canwest.com

Huskies’ Parker has stuff of champions

From bantam to midget to junior, his hockey career a succession of trophies
By Darren Zaryof The StarPhoenix
Everywhere Brett Parker goes, he wins. Every league he has played in, Parker has won a championship banner.

As the WHL’s Vancouver Giants found out last season, you can always find room for a Brett Parker on your roster. He joined them for their playoff run all the way to the 2006 Memorial Cup national championship tournament.

Parker, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound grinding forward from Melville, is the prototypical Hustlin’ Huskie. He is a throwback to the lunch bucket style favoured by coach Dave King, who led the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to the national championship in Moncton, N.B., in 1983. Parker is a proven winner. “He’s a character guy who’s had an awful lot of winning in his background,” Huskies coach Dave Adolph says of Parker, who was especially effective in the final two games of the Canada West conference final against the Alberta Golden Bears last weekend in Edmonton.

“Not only that, he’s a great student. Unfortunately, he broke his kneecap and missed almost a month during the first half of the season. He’s just getting back to where he was in November.

“He has served a purpose for us. He grinds it out on a line and he’s a great penalty-killer — he and (Jason) Wagar have found a spot on the team because of that.”

Parker won the WHL title a year ago with the Giants. He won the 2002 national midget championship with a Tisdale Trojans team that featured current Huskies Myles Zimmer and Cole Simpson. In bantams, Parker won a provincial championship in Melville with Huskies teammate Brett Novak.

“I’ve won at least a league championship since firstyear bantam,” Parker says. “My second-year bantam, we won provincials and we went to Western Canadians and got third place. In midget AAA, we won the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League championship and then won the national championship in Bathurst, New Brunswick.

“In the WHL, we went to Moncton for the Memorial Cup with the Vancouver Giants.” A good-luck charm or what? “Ever since we were younger, I had a good group of guys,” Parker says. “They’ve moved to theAHL (American Hockey League) and semi-pro leagues. They’ve always wanted to win and become champions.

“Once a championship is in your blood, you never like to lose. Like my dad (Leo Parker) said when he coached us (in bantam): ‘All you’ve got to do is win your last game of the year to win a championship.’ ”

Hockey is in Parker’s blood. His great grandpa, Leo Parker, was involved with some great Humboldt Indians teams and had a rink named after him in Humboldt.

“My dad took me there to see it before it got knocked down,” Parker says.

“I’m actually a third-generation Huskie, too. My uncle, Murray Parker, was first generation and then there was another Parker.

“We’ve got a great group of guys here,” he says of the Dogs.

“It’s time for the Huskies to get a championship under their belts. They’re all due. They’ve been here for a while and put in their time. Now they want to win a championship and make it all worth it.”

dzary@sp.canwest.com

CIS men's hockey - Host Aigles Bleus seeded No. 1 for Cavendish University Cup

OTTAWA (CIS) - The Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus are favoured to capture the University Cup on home ice on Sunday, March 25.

Topping the national media poll since November 21, the Aigles Bleus have been seeded No. 1 for the 2007 CIS men's hockey championship to be held at the Moncton Coliseum March 22-25

Championship web site: www.cisport.ca/e/championships/m_hockey/2007

Following Moncton in order in the seedings are the No. 2-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West champions), No. 3 UQTR Patriotes (OUA champions), No. 4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists), No. 5 UNB Varsity Reds (AUS finalists) and No. 6 St. Francis Xavier X-Men (AUS bronze medalists).

The Aigles Bleus, looking for a first CIS ring since 1994-95, hope home ice will be as welcoming as it was the last time they hosted the University Cup tournament for a two-year period. The first year, in the spring of 1982, a Moncton team led by future Stanley Cup-winning coach Jean Perron successfully defended the national title it had won 12 months earlier in Calgary.

The 2006-07 edition of the Aigles Bleus has been dominant to say the least. Entering the nationals on a seven-game win streak, including a 5-0 playoff record, the AUS champions (22-4-0-2) lost only four times in regulation over a 28-game conference schedule as they led the nation with 142 goal scored and finished first in the Atlantic (tied 5th CIS) with 79 goals allowed.

Moncton is grouped in Pool A with the Golden Hawks and X-Men. Laurier and StFX are set to face off in the late Thursday round-robin game (7 p.m. local), with the Aigles Bleus opening their tournament against the loser of that match-up on the Friday night.

In Pool B action, No. 2 Saskatchewan will battle UNB in the University Cup opener in the Thursday 2 p.m. match. UQTR will face the loser the next day.

The Huskies upset two-time defending national champion Alberta in three games in the best-of-three Canada West final, preventing the Golden Bears from advancing to the CIS championship for the first time since 1995-96.

SEEDINGS & POOLS

1. Moncton Aigles Bleus (AUS champions / 22-4-0-2 regular season, 4-0 playoffs)
2. Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West champions / 16-9-0-3 regular season, 4-1
playoffs)
3. UQTR Patriotes (OUA champions / 17-5-3-3 regular season, 5-1 playoffs)
4. Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists / 22-5-1-0 regular season, 4-1 playoffs)
5. UNB Varsity Reds (AUS finalists / 18-8-0-3 regular season, 3-3 playoffs)
6. StFX X-Men (AUS bronze medalists / 17-9-0-3 regular season, 5-3 playoffs)

Pool A
1. Moncton
4. Laurier
6. StFX

Pool B
2. Saskatchewan
3. UQTR
5. UNB

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (all times LOCAL)

Thursday, March 22
14:00 Pool B #1: Saskatchewan vs. UNB
19:00 Pool A #1: Laurier vs. StFX

Friday, March 23
14:00 Pool B #2: UQTR vs. Loser Pool B #1
19:00 Pool A #2: Moncton vs. Loser Pool A #1

Saturday, March 24
12:30 Pool B #3: UQTR vs. Winner Pool B #1 (Live on TSN)
20:00 Pool A #3: Moncton vs. Winner Pool A #1 (Live on TSN)

Sunday, March 25
20:00 Championship final (Live on TSN & RDS)

Dogs wait for their day

By Darren Zaryof The StarPhoenix

The only game the University of Saskatchewan Hockey Huskies will play this week is the waiting game.

After rolling back into town on the bus early Monday morning, the freshly-crowned Canada West men’s hockey champions now await the 2007 University Cup national championship tournament draw to be released at the end of the week or early next week.

The tournament runs March 22-25 at Moncton, N.B., where the Huskies will be joined by the Moncton Blue Eagles, New BrunswickVarsity Reds, Ontario University Athletics champion Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks and either the St. Francis Xavier X-Men or St. Thomas Tommies. St. FX leads best-of-three Atlantic University Sport (AUS) wild-card final 1-0.

The Dogs, who took Monday off to rest, will be back on the ice at practice today. They’ll leave for Moncton either next Monday or Tuesday once travel plans are finalized.

The Dogs earned a berth in the University Cup national tournament by knocking off the two-time defending champion Alberta Golden Bears 2-1 in a hard-fought best-of-three Canada West conference final at Clare DrakeArena in Edmonton.

Despite dropping the opening game 2-1, the Huskies battled back to take Game 2 3-2 in triple-overtime and Game 3 by a 4-3 score after rallying from a 3-1 deficit with three unanswered goals in that deciding game.

The Huskies now advance to their 12th University Cup tournament in search of their second national championship. Their first was in 1983, also at Moncton.

“All the credit to our senior guys,” U of S head coach Dave Adolph said. “This is a game of experience and the more times you get the guys the opportunity to be successful, the better.

“Our experienced showed.”

Austring player of the week

U of S assistant captain Curtis Austring, who was the OT hero Saturday, has been named both the Canada West athlete of the week and men’s hockey player of the week.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound commerce student, from Stewart Valley, collected five points to pace the Huskies to the 2007 Canada West hockey title. Austring was a one-man wrecking crew in Game 2 on Saturday, scoring all three Saskatchewan goals as the Huskies rallied to tie the series at 1-1 with a 3-2 victory in triple OT.

He sent the game into extra time with the tying goal at 16:05 of the third period. It was almost 40 minutes before he completed his first hat-trick of the season with the game-winning goal at 9:16 of the third OT period, ending the longest game in Canada West hockey playoff history at 99:16.

Austring helped Saskatchewan claim its 14th Canada West conference title and first since 2000 with a two-assist performance in Game 3.

With the five-point series, Austring claimed the conference playoff scoring title with 3-4— 7 in five games. Overall, he has 13-20—33 in 36 games.

dzary@sp.canwest.com

Dogs Have Their Day - Saskatchewan Huskies Finally End Golden Bears Reign over Canada West

By DEREK VAN DIEST, Sun Media

Forget about the three-peat.

The University of Alberta Golden Bears men's hockey team won't be going to the national championships for the first time since 1996.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies will be representing Canada West instead.

First since 2000

Last night the Bears fell 4-3 to the Huskies at Clare Drake Arena in the third and deciding game of the Canada West final.



The win earned the Huskies their first conference title since 2000, and booked their place at the University Cup in Moncton, N.B., March 22-25.

"We came here with a purpose and that was to go to Moncton," said Huskies head coach Dave Adolph.

"We had a rough first period, but I thought we bounced back and really played our game in the second period and there was no denying us in the third."

Colin Patterson scored the winner with 2:50 left in the third period, completing the comeback for the Huskies after they were down 3-1 late in the second.

"Colin Patterson has scored some pretty big goals for us here down the stretch," Adolph said. "And there was no better time for Patty to bury one."

Derek Price, Harland Anderson and Brian Woolger scored for the Bears who went into the series as two-time defending national champions.

This was the sixth consecutive meeting between the two teams in the Canada West final. It was the first time the Huskies have won.

"I'm very proud of our guys," said Bears head coach Eric Thurston. "They didn't leave anything in the tank. They battled, but we had a tough time containing their forwards down low.

"They were very determined, so you have to give a lot of credit to Dave Adolph and his team, they never quit."

The Huskies lost the opening game of the series 2-1 on Friday, then won a triple-overtime marathon Saturday to set up last night's deciding game.

Keegan McAvoy lead the way for the Huskies, scoring a pair of goals, including the tying goal four minutes into the third period. Mason Wallin also scored for the Huskies.

Had the feeling

"It's an unbelievable feeling," McAvoy said. "We had this feeling right from our young guys to our older guys, that no matter what were going up against in the third period, we could do it. We consider ourselves a third-period hockey club and we stuck with it."

Bears goaltender Aaron Sorochan made 26 saves in the contest - many of the outstanding variety. However, it's the one that got away which cost the Bears.

Sorochan lost sight of Keegan McAvoy's slow roller early in the third and ended up having to fish the puck out of his net. He had no chance on Patterson's winner from in close.

"At that point we though momentum was going right and we had momentum on our side," McAvoy said.

"I knew I had a screen in front, I just wanted to put it on net and I don't think Sorochan saw it until the last minute. I'm lucky I caught a piece of the net. But that's playoff hockey, you put puck on net and you never know what's going to happen."

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