SASKATOON – The honour of playing in the first ever competitive hockey games inside the brand new Merlis Belsher Place will go to the University of Saskatchewan Huskie women's hockey team this weekend, when they take on the Alberta Pandas on Friday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 6.

 

👀 @HuskiesWHKY got their first look at Merlis Belsher Place bright and early Monday ahead of @CanadaWest home openers this weekend.

🎟 https://t.co/RE57KZrca8 pic.twitter.com/WNs2XPOIEk

— Huskie Athletics (@HuskieAthletics) October 1, 2018

 
With puck-drop in the new facility scheduled for 7 p.m. on both nights, Steve Kook's 13th season in charge of the Huskies will begin with a showdown between two teams that are expected to be near the top of the conference standings.
 
One year after finishing second in the conference and fourth at the U SPORTS National Championships, the Huskies were ranked fourth in the Canada West Pre-Season Coaches Poll, while the Pandas earned the second-most votes.
 
Saskatchewan enters the season after a perfect pre-season schedule saw them put up a record of 2-3. Saskatchewan scored big in victories over the Lethbridge Pronghorns (5-0) and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks (5-1). Their three losses came at the hands of two perennial powers in the conference, falling twice to the reigning National Champion Manitoba Bisons (3-1), (1-0) and wrapping up their exhibition slate with a loss at the hands of the Pandas (3-2).
  
For the first time in five years the Huskies find themselves entering the season without the services of a quartet of leaders. Team captain Kaitlin Willoughby, who led the team in goals, assists and points last year, graduated at the end of last season. Also graduating were standouts, Kori Herner, Kira Bannatyne and Kennedy Harris.

There won't be a single fifth-year player on the Huskies' roster this season, but the team will still have plenty of veteran leadership with eight athletes now in their fourth year with the team.
 
Balancing out that veteran leadership is a strong recruiting class that will see eight players making their Canada West debuts in 2018-19.
  
FULL CW PREVIEW 
 
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES SEASON PREVIEW
 
2018-19 CW pre-season coaches poll: 4th
2017-18 CW regular season record: 18-7-1-2, 2nd
2017-18 CW post-season record: 2-2, lost CW Final to Manitoba (4th at nationals)
Head coach: Steve Kook (13th season) / 147-139-8 Career CW reg. season record 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2014 / 1
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: none
 
2017-18 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 49 goals, 4th
Defence: 31 goals against, 1st
Power play: 7.1%, 8th
Penalty kill: 92.6%, 2nd
 
2017-18 CW regular season leaders:
Goals: 9 – Kaitlin Willoughby, F
Assists: 10 – Kaitlin Willoughby, F
Points: 19 – Kaitlin Willoughby, F
Wins: 14 – Jessica Vance, G
Shutouts: 9 – Jessica Vance, G 
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Nicole Fry / Forward / 1 / Calgary, AB / Rocky Mountain Raiders
Isabella Pozzi / Defence / 1 /Calgary, AB / Rocky Mountain Raiders
Chelsea Debusschere / Defence / Lloydminster, SK / Lloydminster Steelers
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Kori Herner / Forward / Kindersley, SK / 5
Kaitlin Willoughby / Forward / Prince Albert, SK / 5
Kira Bannatyne / Defence / Winnipeg, MB / 5
Kennedy Harris / Forward / Kindersley, SK / 5 
 
Key performer:
Jessica Vance
Goalie
3rd-year
Prince Albert, SK 
Jessica Vance took over the starting goalie role for the Huskies last season and was immediately impressive. The native of Prince Albert, SK was named a Canada West First Team All-Star, U SPORTS All-Canadian and Canada West Player of the Year in 2017-18.
Vance finished the season with a record of 14-3-0-1, a goals against average of 0.77 while compiling nine shutouts.