HALIFAX, N.S. - Despite erasing a 3-0 deficit to force overtime, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies saw their 2025-26 season come to a close Thursday night (Mar. 19) in Halifax, suffering an overtime loss to the Saint Mary's Huskies.

"Obviously tough right now for our group," said head coach Brandin Cote. "We had I guess higher expectations coming in here, but you know, we've had a great year and I'm proud of our guys."

"Give credit to SMU, they played a real hard game. I thought we got our legs under us as the game went along, we took over the game in the last period and were able to come back and tie it up. But in overtime, anything can happen. We had our chances, we had our opportunities, a couple breakaways, couple point-blankers. Their goaltender played well. Our goaltender played well. They had some good chances, and that's just the way it goes sometimes."

After falling behind 3-0 late in the second period, U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Conner Roulette finally broke the scoreless drought for the Dogs with just over four minutes remaining in the frame.

It was an impressive goal from the Huskies' leading postseason scorer. The Winnipeg product forced a turnover off a neutral zone faceoff before splitting a pair of SMU defenders and finishing the play with a glove-side shot past Saint Mary's goaltender Marcus Vandenberg for his 6th of the playoffs.

Despite a late powerplay opportunity, Saskatchewan entered the second intermission still trailing the tournament hosts 3-1.

15 seconds into the third Roulette doubled down. After Chae Bertholet gained the zone, he sent a centering pass to Liam Keeler who then found the rookie coming down the left side of the offensive zone. Roulette wired a wrist shot up and over the glove of Vandenberg for his second of the game, cutting the deficit to one.

Now a one goal game, both teams tightened up defensively as they realized the importance of the next goal. Both teams would receive power play opportunities midway through the period, however defence continued to prevail as the score remained unchanged entering the final few minutes.

It was at this stage that SMU took a late tripping call with just under three minutes left in regulation and, looking to amend their 0-for-3 power play, the Huskies headed back to the man advantage.

Just over 40 seconds into the Saint Mary's penalty, Chantz Petruic fired a pin-point, cross-ice pass to Liam Keeler who was waiting on the doorstep for the tap-in and game-tying score.

Headed to extra time, both teams saw excellent scoring opportunities in overtime. 55 seconds into the extra frame, Saskatchewan netminder Nolan Maier turned aside a SMU breakaway opportunity before Petruic failed to convert a breakaway of his own midway through the period. 

With just under four minutes left, SMU's Ben Boyd then found Ethan Ritchie uncovered in front of the Saskatchewan net who redirected a perfect pass up and over the blocker of Maier, ending the game and the Huskies' season.

"Coming into a tournament like this, they give you the one seed, but that means nothing when you're in a tournament with the eight best teams left in Canada," said Roulette, who was named the Huskies' Player of the Game. "I just can't thank the coaches and our vets enough. Just a really fun year, and it just sucks that it got cut short."