GAME INFORMATION

Date: Friday, Mar. 4 Saturday, Mar. 5 & Sunday, Mar. 6 (If Necessary)
Time: 8:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
Location: Calgary, Alta.
Venue: Flames Community Rink
Watch: Canadawest.tv
Listen: HuskieFAN

Two wins this weekend and their trip to nationals is booked. 

After upsetting the Manitoba Bisons in last week's Canada West quarter-final, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team has an opportunity at their hands as they look to punch a ticket to the Canada West Final and U SPORTS National Championships.

In front of the Huskies are the Mount Royal Cougars, who enter the matchup as the number-two ranked program in the country. The Cougars finished the regular-season with a 16-2-2 record and were the cream of the crop in the Canada West this season, earning the number-one seed in the conference. 

While Saskatchewan is fresh off their quarter-final win, Mount Royal hasn't played since Feb. 19 after a bye during the opening round of the postseason.

The Cougars and Huskies faced off in Calgary back in December — their lone two meetings of the season. Mount Royal recorded back-to-back 1-0 victories over Saskatchewan, with Amy Tatum and Tianna Ko scoring the goals to help the homeside record the sweep.

But since that series, Saskatchewan turned a bit of a corner. Including the postseason, the green-and-white have won seven of their last ten. They'll be hoping their winning ways continue this weekend.

Thoughts from head coach Steve Kook:

Kook on the matchup against the number-one seed Cougars:

"We're just fighting for the same ticket to the national championship. No under dogs here — you've earned your right to be here."

Kook on trying to shut down Tianna Ko, a Canada West first-team all-star, whose ten goals this season was tied for the most in the conference: 

"That's one of 19 we've got to worry about. That we're one of 20 that they got away. Honestly, with that team — you can't focus on one or there will be two others that jump into the play.  Coleman will get in under the play and Trotter will find a loose puck. There's lots of people on that team."

Kook on how his team is feeling entering the semifinal series:

"I think they're feeling really good. Little bit of swagger, some confidence. They're loose right now, which is good. We need to play that way. I was just watching video and I think we're a different team than when we played them last time.

Kook on what he thinks has improved from his team since:

"It's hard to say you've matured as a team, but our young players had a chance to go through a first half of the regular season and just be in a little bit more control over their thoughts and their actions on the ice."

Scouting the Cougars:

• Alongside Ko, Courtney Kollman is tied for fourth in the Canada West in points with 19, after recording eight goals and 11 assists in 19 games
• Captain Amy Tatum's 14 assists were tied for fourth in the conference
• Ko, Kollman and goaltender Zoe De Beauville were all named Canada West first-team all-stars. Collman was named a Canada West second-time all-star, while Aliya Jomha was named to the Canada West all-rookie team