Hockey Bears win CIS title.
U of A tames Saskatchewan in CIS final
SASKATOON — It was the matchup the home side wanted, but certainly not the result.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies finally got a rematch with the archrival University of Alberta Golden Bears in a Canadian Interuniversity Sport national men’s hockey championship, only to see the No. 1-ranked Bears prevail once again.
Alberta defeated Saskatchewan 3-1 in the 2014 PotashCorp University Cup before 6,289 fans Sunday at Credit Union Centre to win its 14th national title. Alberta, which has now won three CIS titles in Saskatoon, came in as the undisputed No. 1 seed and Canada West champions with a 25-2-1 record.
“It’s unbelievable right now,” said Bears coach Ian Herbers, who last won a CIS title as a player in 1992.
“Our guys have worked so hard. Just the commitment, determination and focus … and desire to get better every day is huge.”
The Bears title was the team’s first since 2008.
“I love the way we play,” said Herbers. “We go after teams. We don’t sit back. … We’re aggressive on our forechecks and penalty kills and we want to score goals.”
T he Huskies — who reached the final for the first time since losing in overtime to the Bears in 2005 — have made 16 appearances in the national championship tournament, but have just one crown to show for it.
“I know we didn’t leave anything out there,” said team captain Brennan Bosch, one of four graduating fifthyear Huskies.
“It’s hard to take right now, but we’re going to be proud the way we went after it and worked. I have a lot of respect for the way we battled.”
After a scoreless first period, Alberta capitalized on a Huskies turnover off the boards that resulted in Jordan Hickmott deflecting a pass from Brett Ferguson past U of S goalie Ryan Holfeld.
What may have been the turning point of the game came later in the second when the Huskies allowed a goal during a five-minute power play.
“That kill is huge for us.,” said Bears forward Levko Koper, who scored what proved to be the game winner, shorthanded, during that stretch at 15:19 of the second.
Matt Spafford lost control of the puck along the boards, resulting in a two-on-one break and Koper finishing off a centring pass from James Dobrowolski.
Saskatchewan answered right back with a goal by tournament MVP Derek Hulak.
“We were right back in it,” said fifth-year Huskie forward Andrew Bailey. “We had lots of time. If we get that next one, we’re putting the pressure on and we’ve got a good chance.”
It was Alberta that got that next goal, again by Koper, with 5:48 remaining.
“We were still one shot away,” said Bosch. “We hit a post that could have tied it and changed the game. It was just a tough game.”
Alberta, which outshot Saskatchewan-36-21 in the game, went zero for six on its power play. Saskatchewan went zero for three.
Koper, with his second of the game, scored the lone goal in the third period with 5:48 remaining.
“I honestly thought we were going to pull it off today, if a couple of bounces go our way,” said Huskies assistant captain Matt Delahey.
“We came out flat, but we picked it up. We had a lot of chances, too, but we just couldn’t put it by him (Alberta goalie Kurtis Mucha). That’s how it goes sometimes. “They’re a good team and they deserved it. It’s tough to swallow right now, but hats off to them.” NOTES: University of Saskatchewan player Derek Hulak was named MVP of the tournament and a tourney all-star, along with rookie defenceman Kendall McFaull. Rounding out the all-stars were Golden Bears defenceman Jesse Craige and forwards Brett Ferguson and Kruise Reddick, as well as McGill Redmen goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard … The 2015 tournament will be played in Halifax, where the Canada West will be represented by two teams.