SASKATOON – A pair of games against their fiercest rivals will kick off the 2018-19 Canada West campaign for a University of Saskatchewan Huskie men's hockey team looking to make their way to the U SPORTS National Championship tournament for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.
Beginning head coach
Dave Adolph's 26th season in charge on the road, the Huskies will travel to Edmonton to face an opponent they know all too well in the form of the Alberta Golden Bears.
"We normally play a pre-season tournament there and that is an opportunity for our new guys to go into that barn," said Adolph. "We didn't get out there this year and it is a hard place to play, so there are going to be some baptisms by fire for some of our new guys this weekend, but we are all looking forward to it."
You have to go back to the 1995-96 season for the last time the conference championship was won by a school other than the Huskies or Golden Bears, with Saskatchewan taking six titles in that time frame.
Saskatchewan enters the season after a perfect pre-season schedule saw them record victories over the Regina Cougars (4-0), Manitoba Bisons (4-1), Calgary Dinos (3-2) and York Lions (5-2).
"It's been a crazy four weeks for us and I'm sure it's the same for all of our Canada West opposition," said Adolph. "We are starting ten days earlier than usual, so everything is really compressed. To squeak four wins out; we'll take it, but it doesn't really mean anything."
For the first time in five years the Huskies find themselves entering the season without the services of
Jordon Cooke,
Connor Cox,
Kendall McFaull and
Josh Roach, who all graduated at the end of last season and
signed professional contracts overseas.
"I'm really proud of how successful those guys were academically and that they have moved on," said Adolph. "You hope that others are going to step up, and that will be by committee because you just don't replace guys like that."
With a roster that features 15 players in their first or second year of eligibility, including
five recruits from the WHL, the Huskies will be looking for fresh faces to provide an immediate impact this season.
"There have been some real nice surprises with a couple of our second-year players and they are moving along a little quicker than we thought they would be," said Adolph. "They carried us in three of the four games in our pre-season."
The games in Edmonton are slated for Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m., and Sunday Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. Both of those games can be watched live on
canadawest.tv
SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES SEASON PREVIEW
2018-19 CW pre-season coaches poll rank: 2nd
2017-18 CW regular season record: 20-7-1, 2nd
2017-18 CW post-season record: 2-3, lost to Alberta in CW Final (4th at University Cup)
Head coach: Dave Adolph (26th season) / 409-253-38 (CW career reg. season record)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2015-16 / 10
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 1982-83 / 1
2017-18 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 101 goals for, 2nd
Defence: 66 goals against, 2nd
Power play: 15%, 8th
Penalty kill: 86%, 1st
2017-18 CW regular season leaders:
Goals: 13 –
Josh Roach, F
Assists: 24 –
Josh Roach, F
Points: 37 –
Josh Roach, F
Wins: 16 –
Jordon Cooke, G
Shutouts: 3 –
Jordon Cooke, G
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team)
Gordie Ballhorn / Defence / 1 / Wetaskiwin, AB / Kelowna Rockets
Donovan Neuls / Forward / 1 / Grenfell, SK / Seattle Thunderbirds
Travis Child / Goalie / 1 / Killam, AB / Edmonton Oil Kings
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Kendall McFaull / Defence / Rosetown, SK / 5
Connor Cox / Defence / Lethbridge, AB / 5
Josh Roach / Forward / Saskatoon, SK / 5
Jordon Cooke / Goalie / Leduc, AB / 4
Key performer:
Jesse Forsberg
Defence
5th-year
Waldheim, SK
Returning for his fifth and final season with the Huskies, defenceman
Jesse Forsberg will be looked upon to anchor a blueline corps that lost multiple standouts due to graduation at the end of last season. The native of Waldheim, SK brings a blend of physicality and finesse on the back end, playing in 24 games and recording 20 points last season.
