Huskies clinch first place, No. 1 seed and home-ice advantage

Home ice, guaranteed no matter what.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team assured itself of a home-ice advantage and the No. 1 seeding throughout the upcoming Canada West conference playoffs after wrapping up first place Saturday.

The Hockey Dogs blanked the host University of Manitoba Bisons 3-0 on Saturday to finish the season with an all-time program-best 25-3-0 record and 50 points.

Saskatchewan managed to clinch first place ahead of the archrival University of Alberta Golden Bears, who could no longer catch the Dogs with their win Saturday.

Both the Huskies and Bears will enjoy a first-round Canada West quarter-final bye and will await the two remaining quarter-final winners in semifinal action in two weeks time.

Saskatchewan will await the lowest seed remaining from quarter-finals, either the Mount Royal University Mustangs, University of British Columbia Thunderbirds or University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.

Alberta will play either the University of Calgary Dinos, Mount Royal or UBC.

Whoever wins the semifinal will automatically earn a berth into this year’s University Cup national championship in Lethbridge, Alta., as the Canada West finalists will join the host Lethbridge Pronghorns at nationals.

On Saturday, Donovan Neuls, Carson Stadnyk and Parker Thomas each scored once for Saskatchewan, which led 1-0 and 2-0 by periods and out-shot Manitoba 34-18.

Travis Child made 18 saves for the shutout win.

HUSKIES WOMEN’S TEAM WIN OVER BISONS

Meanwhile, the U of S Huskies women’s hockey team finished fourth in the Canada West standings during the regular season with a 16-10-2 record following a 2-1 victory Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place over the defending U Sport national champion Manitoba Bisons.

Saskatchewan will now play host to a Canada West quarter-final best-of-three series next weekend against either the Mount Royal University Cougars or University of Regina Cougars.

Kennedy Brown and Morgan Willoughby scored for the Huskies against the Bisons.