HUSKIES HOT AT HOME
U of A in town for Canada West final
It’s been quite a first year at Merlis Belsher Place for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
How about an all-time program-best 25-3-0 record during the regular season, for starters?
On top of that, they’ve endured only one loss in 16 games at their new rink.
Now, they welcome a Canada West conference men’s hockey championship final series in their new home against the archrival Alberta Golden Bears, the reigning U Sport champions.
After 89 years at the rusty Rutherford Rink, the Huskies clearly have made a successful transition to their new facility.
It’ll be the fourth straight year these two powerhouse teams have met in the Canada West final.
For the past 22 years, either Alberta or Saskatchewan has won the Canada West men’s hockey conference title. No one else has won it since 1996.
“It’s us and the Bears and, every year, it means something,” says U of S men’s hockey coach Dave Adolph, who on Wednesday was named Canada West coach of the year.
Only one thing is different. “We’re here (Merlis Belsher Place), though,” adds Adolph. “It’s been a pretty magical year at Merlis Belsher and our guys play well here. I think Alberta will embrace the challenge coming here.
“It’s funny, they’re ranked No. 1 in the country but we finished first. It’s kind of weird. We’re both going to nationals.
“When the Bears and Huskies play, it’s an absolute war. I’m looking forward to it.”
U of S goalie Taran Kozun joined Adolph among the major award winners on Wednesday when he was named Canada West goalie of the year.
The Canada West best-of-three final goes Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday at Merlis Belsher Place. Game-time is 7 p.m. each night. Both teams have automatically qualified for the upcoming University Cup national championship tournament in Lethbridge.
“It means so much when you play the Bears — it really does,” stresses Adolph. “They’ll say the same thing. Right now, they don’t give a (crap) about what’s going on two weeks from now. That Canada West banner is big. We’ve been fighting for it, and so have they, for ever and ever.”
Saskatchewan has won two conference titles out of the last three times it has hosted the Canada West championship final series on home ice. Alberta advanced to its seventh consecutive conference final after sweeping the Calgary Dinos in two straight, 3-1 and 6-3.
The Bears are on a 15-game winning streak, their last loss coming to the Huskies, 4-3 in overtime, at Merlis Belsher Place on Nov. 30.
The Huskies and Golden Bears each picked up two wins during their season series.
The Huskies — who have won 12 games in a row — will enter the championship after a convincing sweep, 5-1 and 7-3, over the Mount Royal Cougars.
They’d like to extend their winning ways at Merlis Belsher.
“Playing Alberta is huge,” veteran Huskies forward Andrew Johnson says.
“We were able to go on a streak in the end and be able to host the final. We’re pretty fortunate to do that.
“It’s going to be special. It doesn’t really matter who we play. It’s going to be sweet and hopefully it’s packed in here. It was rocking (last Saturday night). Our first year and being able to host the final here is pretty cool.”
DOG TALES: The Alberta Golden Bears had four Canada West major award winners in Luke Philp (player of the year), Jason Fram (top defenceman), Grayson Pawlenchuk (rookie of the year), and Riley Kieser (student-athlete community service) ...
Philp was the Canada West conference scoring champion with 21 goals and 24 assists in 24 regular-season games ...
Ian Herbers, who returned to the Bears after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers, is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Bears. Hebers has three Canada West championships and two University Cups as a coach.
Playing Alberta is huge. We were able to go on a streak in the end and be able to host the final. We’re pretty fortunate to do that.