All-Huskies matchup opens hockey tourney
U of S women face off against squad from Saint Mary’s at four-day event
It’s Huskies versus Huskies, Saskatchewan versus Saint Mary’s.
The hockey dogs from Saskatchewan are definite underdogs as the No. 7 seed and Canada West conference runners-up while the Saint Mary’s Huskies, Atlantic University Sport champions from Nova Scotia, come in as the No. 2 seed.
The U Sports canine battle will go Thursday afternoon (2 p.m. Sask. time) in London, Ont., at the U Sports national women’s hockey championship tournament.
The eight-team, single-knockout tournament also features the No. 1 seeded Manitoba Bisons along with the Western Mustangs, Concordia Stingers, St. FX X-Women, Montreal Carabins and Queen’s Gaels.
The all-Huskies matchup will open up the four-day event.
“I like us playing the first night of the tournament,” said U of S head coach Steve Kook, whose team practised at Rutherford Rink for one final time Sunday afternoon before leaving Tuesday for London, Ont.
“Let’s get into the tournament and let’s get at her.”
The AUS champion Huskies from Saint Mary’s sport an overall record of 20-7-2. That includes a 14-game winning streak and 11 straight wins to end the regular season.
The Maritime Huskies averaged 3.13 goals per game while allowing an average of 1.07 goals per game. Breanna Lanceleve led Saint Mary’s with 20 goals and 18 assists for 28 points.
“We’ve had a little time to watch them, not a whole lot,” said Kook, whose team last represented Canada West at nationals in 2014.
“We’ll get a better sense once we exchange video. You’re at a national championship where there are seven other teams that you’ve got to match up against or else you’re done. It’s a one-and-done tournament, so you’ve got to play your best.”
Fifth-year Huskies blue-liner Kira Bannatyne said her team likes that opening matchup despite knowing very little about their eastern namesakes.
“I think we’re happy about it,” she said. “Any time you play there, they ’re all high-level hockey teams, so we’re pretty excited about it. It’s kind of hard (to know) an East Coast team. It’s hard to compare just because we never play any of them.”
The key?
“We need to keep playing our game,” said Bannatyne. “I don’t think we can stray from that. Since we don’t know too much about them, it’s kind of hard to prepare for it so we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing.
“I’m pretty excited, I’m glad that our team gets to go. It’s a hardworking team.”
Bannatyne and fellow fifth-year players Kaitlin Willoughby, Kori Herner, Kennedy Harris practised for one final time Sunday at Rutherford Rink, which will be replaced by Merlis Belsher Place sometime next season.
“It’s pretty sad but it’s a good way to go out (playing at nationals),” said Bannatyne, who was part of the contingent that went to the 2014 national championship.
“Every year, this is what we work hard for.”
Being there once before, in 2014, proved to be a valuable experience from which to draw. The younger girls on the team will look to the four five-year veterans for guidance.
“It’s nice to let them know what to expect,” said Bannatyne.