Bailey earns share of all-time games mark
Huskies third in conference
Andrew Bailey has found a spot in the Canada West record book.
Not only did Bailey score a short-handed tally in a 4-1 win Saturday by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies over the rival University of Regina Cougars, he became an all-time leader in games played.
“WE RECRUITED [BAILEY] THINKING HE WAS THIS BIG MONSTER. HE’S NOT, BUT HE SURE PLAYS BIG.”
DAVE ADOLPH
Bailey is one of only five players in the Canada West men’s hockey conference to play each and every game (140 games) during a fiveyear Canadian Interuniversity Sport career.
By doing so, he also joins Neil Pogany (1989-94) in the Huskies’ record book.
Bailey and Pogany are the only two Huskies to play the maximum 140 games, along with Dave Stetch (University of Manitoba Bisons, 1993-98), Jeff Lawson (Regina Cougars, 1994-99) and Brock Nixon (University of Calgary Dinos, 2008-13).
Bailey also has played in 20 Canada West playoff games thus far and four University Cup games during his U of S career. He is the team’s modern-day iron man.
“It’s something I take pride of,” Bailey said of his playing streak, adding that you “play with some bumps and bruises” along the way.
Bailey, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound winger from Hazlet, was recruited from the WHL’s Kootenay Ice after collecting 198 points in his last three seasons.
“I thought he was 6-foot1 or 6-2, because that’s how he plays,” said U of S coach Dave Adolph. “He plays like a big heavy body out there and he plays for keeps in everything he does. We recruited him thinking he was this big monster. He’s not, but he sure plays big.”
It’s a big finish for Bailey, who posted a CIS career-best 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points this season, most of that coming in the second half.
Ryan McDonald, Kenton Dulle and Derek Hulak also scored Saturday as the Huskies swept the Cougars, knocking them out of a playoff spot.
Blake Voth, making only his second start in net for the Huskies this season, stopped 25 shots for the win.
Troy Hunter scored the lone Cougar goal on the power play, spoiling Voth’s shutout bid with 1:57 remaining.
Saskatchewan, which finishes third in the conference at 17-10-1, now plays the British Columbia Thunderbirds in a Canada West bestof-three quarter-final series Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Credit Union Centre.
DOG TALES: With a goal and assist Saturday, Derek Hulak captured the Canada West conference scoring title with 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 28 games. Hulak finishes No. 2 in CIS scoring behind only the University of Western Ontario’s Daniel Erlich (10 goals and four assists for 50 points).