SASKATOON – A pair of games inside Merlis Belsher Place will kick off the 2019-20 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 a fifth-straight season.
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The games in Saskatoon are slated for Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28 with both games getting underway at 7 p.m.
Beginning head coach
Dave Adolph's 27th season in charge at home, the Huskies will face an opponent they know all too well in the form of the Mount Royal Cougars. Saskatchewan compiled a record of 6-0 against Mount Royal last season, including wins of 5-1 and 7-3 in a sweep of the Cougars in the Canada West semifinals.
More than just recent history against the Cougars is on the side of the Huskies however, as the team has won 12 of their last 13 conference opening games, with four of those wins coming at home.
Saskatchewan enters the season after a perfect pre-season schedule saw them host a tournament inside Merlis Belsher Place. In a pair of games the Huskies defeated the Regina Cougars (4-3) and lost to the Alberta Golden Bears (4-0).
For the first time in five years the Huskies find themselves entering the season without the services of
Jesse Forsberg,
Michael Sofillas,
Parker Thomas and
Jaimen Yakubowski.
With a roster that features 13 players in their third, fourth or fifth year of eligibility, this will be a veteran Huskies squad attempting to win the 11th Canada West title in program history after being chosen to finish second in the
Canada West Coaches Poll.
HUSKIE SEASON PREVIEW
2018-19 CW regular season record: 25-3-0, 1st in CW
2018-19 CW post-season record: 3-2, lost in CW Final (4th at University Cup)
Head coach: Dave Adolph (27th season) / 434-256-38 (career CW reg. season record)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2015-16 / 10
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 1982-83 / 1
2018-19 CW regular season ranks:
- Offence: 115 goals, 2nd
- Defence: 49 goals against,1st
- Power play: 23.9%, 2nd
- Penalty kill: 88.3%, 2nd
2018-19 CW regular season leaders:
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Key performer:
Goaltender
Taran Kozun returns between the pipes for the Huskies for the 2019-20 campaign after what was a sensational year for the former Seattle Thunderbirds standout. Kozun's five shutouts set a new Canada West single-season record, helping the netminder earn U SPORTS and Canada West Goalie of the Year honours along with a spot as an All-Canadian and Canada West First Team All-Star.
One year after a program-best 25-3 regular season record, Kozun will undoubtedly play a large role as Saskatchewan aims to make it back to the University Cup for the fifth-straight season.
