Box Score SASKATOON, SK – Kicking off 2024 Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place the Saskatchewan Huskies (10-6) played host to the Regina Cougars (5-13) in a U-Prairie Challenge match-up. Coming into tonight's game the Huskies and Cougars had split the season series thus far, with the Huskies winning in Regina October 20th, and the Cougars taking the last one October 21^st  here at Merlis Belsher Place.
 
The Cougars put up a good fight tonight, even out-shooting the Huskies, but stellar goalkeeping by Camryn Drever and timely goals from the Huskies late in the 1st period ultimately gave the Huskies the 3-0 shut-out win.
 
After tonight's game the current standings in the U-Prairie Challenge are the Saskatchewan Huskies 8 and the Regina Cougars/Rams 1.
 
THE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Huskies opened the scoring with 3:58 remaining in the first period when Mallory Dyer pushed a rebound past Regina keeper Kliewer after a strong rush from Kara Kondrat.  Was Mallory's 6^th goal on the season.
• Just over a minute later rookie Jacquelyne Chief went top shelf to give the Huskies the 2-0 lead heading into the 1st intermission.  Was Chief's second goal of the year.
• Drever was stellar in the first period stopping all 12 Cougars shots.  The Cougars outshot the Huskies 12-8 in that 1^st period.
• Midway through the second period, while shorthanded, Kliewer made a shoe-string save on an short-handed breakaway by the Huskies Kennedy Brown.
• Regina outshot the Huskies 16-7 in the second but couldn't get one past Drever who stopped all 28 shots heading into the final frame.
• Camryn Drever made a stellar breakaway save on Regina's Paige Hubbard with 3:30 remaining the 3^rd.
• Kara Kondrat slid one into the empty net to make the final score 3-0 Huskies with 1:45 left in the final frame.  Was Kara's 4^th goal of the 2023-2024 campaign.

THE STATS

• Camryn Drever (Canada West save percentage leader) got the start in net for the Huskies, while the Cougars countered with Arden Kliewer.
• Final shots on goal were 30-19 in favor of the Cougars.
• The Huskies were 0/2 on the power-play, while the Cougars were 0/3.
• Tonight's attendance at Merlis Belsher Place was 587.

THE STANDINGS
Following tonight's game the Saskatchewan Huskies record stands at 11-6 and fourth place in Canada West, with the Regina Cougars dropping to 5-14 and eighth in Canada West.
 

THE EXTRAS
The U Prairie Challenge, presented by SaskMilk, celebrates varsity sports in Saskatchewan. This annual points-based competition between the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan involves 11 different men's and women's events, including soccer, football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. 

THE NEXT ONE
The Huskies return to the ice Sunday afternoon for a return game with the Cougars this Sunday January 7^th at 3:00 PM at the Co-operators Centre in the Queen City in what will surely be a U-Prairie Challenge battle.

The Huskie will return to home ice next weekend, Friday January 12^th at 7:00 PM and Saturday January 13^th at 5:00 PM versus the TWU Spartans at Merlis Belsher Place and tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com.

2024 GFL U SPORTS WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP presented by CONNECT ENERGY
The Saskatchewan Huskies are proud to host the 2024 GFL U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship presented by Connect Energy. The national championship will be held at Merlis Belsher Place on March 14-17, 2024. Ticket packages are available at HuskieTickets.com.