WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team got a bit closer to the top of Canada West on Friday, beating the second-best Saskatchewan Huskies 3-0 on Friday, Feb. 11.
Julia Bird scored the game-winner, while Sam Sichkaruk and Madison Cole also put shots home for Manitoba. Erin Fargey earned her sixth U SPORTS shutout, making 24 saves.
The first period was full of earnest, back-to-back attempts to score from both teams. However, in the entire 20 minutes, neither team managed to gain one. The Bisons focused on defending their net in the first period. While they stopped the Huskies from scoring, they struggled to convert their fearsome defence into goals.
The Huskies seemed a step slow starting off the second period, keeping up the pressure just enough to avoid letting the Bisons score any goals. It wouldn't be until 10 minutes into the second period when Bird scored the first goal of the game for the Bisons.
Julia Bird, first-year forward for the Bisons had two assists from the previous weekend against Calgary. Tonight was her third goal of the season.
The Bisons would end the second period up 1-0.
The third period started, and it was clear the Huskies weren't looking to give up a win to the Bisons. Instead, they sent attack after attack to the Bisons goalie, Erin Fargey. However, Fargey managed to block every shot the Huskies would make.
"We played very well defensively. I thought we did a pretty good job managing the game today," said Jon Rempel, head coach for the Bisons.
Nearly halfway through the final period, the Bisons started to take advantage of some opportunities, as Sichkaruk finished a scramble in front of the net to make it 2-0. Almost immediately after, Madison Cole won an offensive zone face-off and scored the team's third goal — just 14 seconds after the 2-0 goal.
"We just have to simplify things. We tried to overdo things a little bit," said Steve Kook, head coach of the Huskies. "When one person tries to skate 200 feet, it's really easy to play against them."
The Bisons and Huskies will meet again on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. — the final regular season game for both teams.
