Bears and Dogs stick it to each other in fight for top spot in Canada West
Measuring sticks replace hockey sticks when two of the top U Sports men’s hockey teams go head to head.
The visiting University of Alberta Golden Bears — ranked No. 1 in the country — pulled ahead by 200 feet or so with a convincing 6-1 win Friday night in Saskatoon at Rutherford Rink. One night later, the No. 3-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies answered right back and pulled even with an equally impressive 4-0 shutout win Saturday night in the same barn. Round one: Even, Steven. “We’re really comparable,” said U of S D-man and assistant captain Jesse Forsberg. “We’re both puck-possession teams with a high level of skill and we both play hard. When we play them, it’s fast hockey and it’s intense. Honestly, whoever brings it the most in the game is going to win.”
As the halfway point of the season approaches, Saskatchewan enjoys a 9-2-1 record. With only its first loss of the season, Alberta is 11-1-0.
The Golden Bears are the reigning Canada West men’s hockey champions, edging the host Huskies 2-1 in a best-of-three series last March. The runner-up Huskies, however, went on to reach the University Cup championship final and finished second in the country while the Bears fell short.
The two U Sport hockey powers won’t meet again until Feb. 2-3.
“We know how important home ice is in playoffs in this league, so every game we play against the Bears is huge,” added Forsberg, who had two assists in Saturday’s win which included a 29-save shutout performance by Jordon Cooke.
The difference between Friday and Saturday?
“We had more jam,” replied Forsberg, a native of Waldheim. “Guys were playing mad (Saturday) with something to prove.”
“Two good teams; two different outcomes,” assessed U of S head coach Dave Adolph. “You do the measuring.
“This had nothing to do with the Bears; this had everything to do with our game,” he added. “We’re a good team; so is Alberta. That’s all that matters. Two teams went headto-head and they split, 50-50.”
Canada West leading scorer Josh Roach — who has nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 12 games — tallied twice and added an assist in Saturday’s win. He also had an assist Friday.