SASKATOON, Sask. - With Saskatoon's new mayor Cynthia Block in attendance, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team punched their ticket to the postseason, earning a convincing 7-2 victory against the Manitoba Bisons, on home ice at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon this Friday evening.
It was a familiar feeling for the Saskatoon faithful, and no not just the frigid January temperatures that are common in the province this time of year. Once again the Saskatchewan fans were treated to yet another dominant home ice victory. During the 24-25 campaign, the Huskies have dropped just one game at MBP, with their only loss coming on Oct. 25th against the West division leading Mount Royal Cougars.
The action kicked off early, as newly elected mayor Cynthia Block joined USask President Dr. Peter Stoicheff and Merlis Belsher for a ceremonial puck drop. This must have brought some good energy to the Huskies as second year defenceman
Landon Kosior wasted no time getting on the board, opening up the scoring for the Huskies just 2:59 into the first period.
Kosior jumped on a loose puck near centre ice and continued down the right wing. Finding himself some open ice, Kosior turned on the jets and made a b-line towards the net, finding himself one-on-one with Bisons goalie Braden Holt. Kosior flipped a quick wrist shot past Holt to put the Huskies up 1-0. Later in the period Saskatchewan's
Mac Gross would add his name to the tally, sniping a short-side wrist shot from a tough angle just a couple feet inside the blue line on the left wing. This would give the Huskies a 2-0 lead entering the first intermission.
It would seem that Manitoba made some adjustments during the break, as just 2:01 into the second period they answered back, as Caden Zaplitny broke the ice for the Bisons. Things began to get chippy between the two prairie opponents, after Manitoba's Parker Malchuk gave
Trevor Wong a shot after the whistle, leading to a roughing call. Saskatchewan capitalized on the powerplay, displaying expert puck control. Wong was instrumental in the scoring play, sliding a cross-ice pass through two defenders to
Chantz Petruic on the right wing. Petruic charged up a slapshot that thundered its way past Holt, extending the Huskie lead to 3-1. Saskatchewan would continue to gain momentum, scoring two more goals, before the Bisons answered, making it 5-2 heading into the third.
The third period was reminiscent of the first as Kosior once again found the back of the net. After picking up the puck near his own net, Kosior flashed his quickness, going coast-to-coast before scoring his second of the game. Landon nearly had himself a hatrick, however replay review showed that
Carter Stebbings deflected in the Huskies seventh and final goal of the contest. Manitoba would not score in the third period, bringing the final to 7-2 Huskies.
The win officially clinched Saskatchewan a spot in the Canada West playoffs, which is even more impressive considering the Huskies still have nine games left to play this season. Now Saskatchewan will move its sights to the home-ice advantage, as they currently sit just two points back of the Alberta Golden Bears for the top spot in the East Division.
They will have a shot to earn another two points tomorrow night in a rematch against the Bisons at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon. The puck drops at 5:00 PM, catch all the action on Canada West TV or the Huskie Fan app.
