Cooke backstops Saskatchewan to championship game
Former Rockets’ goaltender records 2nd straight shutout in University Cup semifinal
FREDERICTON (CP) — Jordon Cooke made 26 saves as the No. 6 Saskatchewan Huskies upset the No. 2 StFX X-Men 8-0 on Saturday in semifinal action at the Canadian university men’s hockey championship.
Saskatchewan will face the No. 5 University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds today in the University Cup final. UNB, the tournament host team, slipped past the No. 8 Acadia Axemen 3-0 in Saturday’s other semi.
Cooke recorded his second straight shutout after blanking the No. 3 York Lions 1-0 in overtime in the quarter-finals.
“When you have guys laying down, blocking shots, that makes my job so much easier,” said Cooke.
Logan McVeigh led Saskatchewan’s offence with two goals. Connor Cox, Jesse Forsberg, Levi Cable, Carson Stadnyk, Parker Thomas and Wyatt Johnson added the others as the Huskies used a six-goal second period to put the game away.
Chase Marchand gave up five goals on 16 to take the loss for StFX.
In the other semifinal, Etienne Marcoux stopped all 20 shots he faced to lead the Varsity Reds past the Axemen.
“Marcoux simplified the game,” UNB coach Gardiner McDougall said. “He kept great body position all game, kept calm.”
Stephen Anderson, Jordan Murray and Phillipe Maillet scored for the Varsity Reds.
Acadia goaltender Robert Steeves stopped 27-of-29 shots.
The Axemen and X-Men will play for bronze.
Top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds upset by McGill, 1-0, in women’s semifinal
NAPANEE, Ont. — Tricia Deguire stopped all 17 shots she faced as the No. 4 McGill Martlets upset the No. 1 UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 on Saturday to move on to the gold-medal game at the U Sports women’s hockey championship.
Gabrielle Davidson scored the lone goal of the game 17:31 into the third period off a pass from Melodie Daoust.
“Honestly it was a really intense game,” said McGill coach Peter Smith. “I though both teams played real well, but we’re just happy to be back in that gold-medal game.”
McGill will play the No. 6 Alberta Pandas for gold today.
Alberta knocked off the No. 7 Concordia Stingers 6-2 in Saturday’s other semi.
Alex Poznikoff led the offence for Alberta with a hat trick.
The game between McGill and UBC was fast-paced, but it was goaltending that stole the show early. In the first period, McGill had two great chances off the rush, but were unable to beat UBC’s Amelia Boughn, who finished with 29 saves.
McGill finally found the back of the net with just 2:29 left in the third period. After a UBC power play was cut short due to a penalty against Kelly Murray, Davidson found space in the slot and hammered in a one-timer shot.
“It’s tough, I’m still a little bit in shock,” said UBC coach Graham Thomas. “This is why you hate the game, this is why you love the game — I’m really proud of our group and all the firsts we’ve accomplished this season.”
UBC, captained by Stephanie Schaupmeyer of Kelowna, will play Concordia in today’s bronze-medal game.