Game Information
 
Date: Friday, Nov. 22
Time: 7:00
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Venue: Merlis Belsher Place
Watch: Canadawest.tv
Get in the Action: Tickets
 
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team will take on their provincial rival Regina Cougars for the first time this season in a home-and-home, which kicks off Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place.
 
The Huskies, who are fresh off a series split against the Manitoba Bisons, return to the friendly confines of their home arena, where they will play three of their final four games of 2019, as they close the calendar year by hosting the Mount Royal Cougars next weekend.
 
Saskatchewan (5-4-1-2) currently sits in a tie for third in the conference on 19 points with the Lethbridge Pronghorns. A logjam currently exists in the Canada West with just six points separating the second and seventh-placed programs, meaning the pair of contests between the provincial rivals will have a significant impact in the standings.
 
Meanwhile, the Cougars will travel to Saskatoon looking to improve on their 3-7-2-0 record. Regina also split their series last weekend, recording a win and a loss against the Alberta Golden Bears. The Cougars recorded a 2-0 win on Friday night, before falling in the second game of the doubleheader by a score of 3-0.
 
With 11 points on the season, the Cougars currently sit in seventh place in the conference, which puts them on the outside looking in on the playoff race. Regina has not failed to qualify for the postseason since 2010-11.
 
Saskatchewan and Regina each won two games apiece in their season series in 2018-19. However, the Huskies won both games on home ice between the clubs last season, recording 2-0 and 4-1 victories.
 
The two teams will make the trek south on Highway 7 to Regina following Friday night's contest, as the clubs will conclude the home-and-home in the provincial capital at the Co-operators Arena on Saturday night.
 
10 Things
 
1: Over the past five seasons, Saskatchewan and Regina have split their last six regular-season games in Saskatoon, with each team holding a 3-3-0-0 record against one another.
 
2: Jessica Vance recorded her second shutout of the season on Friday night in the Huskies 1-0 victory over the Bisons, moving the netminder into a tie for third in career shutouts conference history with 17. Vance was named the Huskies Blue Cross Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the victory. The netminder dove across the crease to rob a Manitoba skater on the doorstep with a tremendous desperation stop which preserved the Saskatchewan win.
 
3: Vance enters the weekend having not allowed a goal in her last 86:23 minutes of action between the pipes.
 
4: Saskatchewan has been clicking with the man-advantage at Merlis Belsher Place this season. The Huskies have found the back of the net on 4 of 13 powerplay opportunities (30.8%). Meanwhile, Regina's powerplay has struggled away from home, scoring on just one of 19 chances with the man-advantage (5.3%).
 
5: Huskies forward Bailee Bourassa leads the conference with 51 shots on goal this season.
 
6: It's been a breakout season for fifth-year forward Shyan Elias. The Winnipeg native, who is playing in her final year of eligibility, leads the Huskies with five goals this season. Elias found the net four times over her previous four seasons with Saskatchewan.
 
7: Elias has scored three of the Huskies eight powerplay goals this season. Meanwhile, Cougars forward Jaycee Magwood has been her team's threat with the man-advantage, scoring three of her club's seven powerplay markers.
 
8: All three of Huskies forward Abby Shirley's goals this season have been game-winners, which is tied atop the Canada West.
 
9: Regina goalie Jane Kish is second in the Canada West with three shutouts in just six starts this season, while her 1.13 goals-against average is also second in the conference.
 
10: Kish who entered the season tied for the program record with eight career shutouts, has already established a new all-time mark for the Cougars with 11.
 
Scouting the Cougars
 
Regina snuck into the sixth and final playoff spot last season postseason last year to qualify for their seventh consecutive appearance. However, the Cougars were swept in the Canada West best-of-three quarter-finals by the UBC Thunderbirds, ending their hopes of winning their second conference title in program history.
 
Cougars forward Jaycee Magwood, who is tied for third in the conference with five goals this season, leads her team with eight points. Magwood, who enters the weekend with 42 goals and 45 assists in her Regina career, is tied for eighth in points in the Cougars career record books.