Your 2020-21 Saskatchewan Huskies

If there's a team who I believe should have had more National Championship appearances in the last three years than anyone not named Alberta, it's the Saskatchewan Huskies. There's no doubt that the Huskies have enough talent to remain in the upper echelon of the Canada West standings year-in and year-out, but the focus on playing defensive hockey rather than allowing the offensive skill to flourish is, in my view, the one thing holding back the Huskies. They have arguably the best goaltender in the conference in Jessica Vance, a competent and skilled blue line, and enough talented forwards that they should be able to outscore their opponents on any given night. Maybe 2021-22 will be the year that head coach Steve Kook will utter the phrase "release the hounds" because this squad should be in contention for a Canada West championship banner!

Once again, there is nothing to be believed on the roster above that should give you any indication that I know anything about how the Huskies will look on the ice. Steve Kook's knowledge as a head coach and about his team would literally bury me in a landslide of information, so take his word over mine anytime the Huskies are on the schedule. However, this video-game version of the Huskies shows you who would be dressing for the 2020-21 season!

If you do look closely at that roster, you'll notice Jayda Sachs at the bottom with a number of "RS" next to her name. That "RS" stands for "Red Shirt" as Sachs transferred into the University of Saskatchewan after playing for the OUA's University of Waterloo last season. I'm going to assume that the transfer period would expire in this 2020-21 non-playing season so that she's eligible next season for games in a Huskies uniform, but had we played games this season Sachs would have been forced to watch from the stands.

That being said, this roster of players with Sachs included is deep, talented, and likely to be tough to beat on any given night. Jessica Vance is a senior and it remains to be seen if she'll return for the 2021-22 season, but the Camryn Drever-Colby Wilson tandem behind her is set to carry her brick wall-like ways in the future if she leaves to pursue a career. The defence corps is nine players deep at this time so there will be some shuffling for Steve Kook to do, but this group is as good offensively as they are defensively when looking to push the puck. Up front, Bailee Bourassa and Abby Shirley should pace the offence, but don't sleep on former Lethbridge recruit Mallory Dyer who looks like she's ready for the big stage. Vance, Bourassa, and Emily Upgang would have played their final years this season so it remains to be seen who will return from these three for the 2021-22 season, but there's enough scoring talent here if both Upgang and Bourassa leave to really drive the Huskies if they're allowed to be creative in the offensive zone.

Here are the 27 players who would have suited up for the Saskatchewan Huskies this season in hockey card form. In rare form, everyone has an "hockey action" card for the Huskies. You may notice that Emily Upgang has a "C" on her card regarding her position, and that's due to me making her card some time ago. She likely will play center, but she's not limited to one position up front.

2020-21 Saskatchewan Huskies Women's Hockey Team

There is no reason that the Huskies can't win the Canada West banner in the 2021-22 season outside of a few teams who will look to derail those dreams. They have exceptional goaltending, solid depth up and down the lineup, and a coach whose attention to detail puts him among the best. All of these factors should push the Huskies to a playoff spot again in 2021-22, but it's up to them to find enough scoring outside of that defensive shell they play to bury their opponents. If they do that, there could be big celebrations at Merlis Belsher Place in 2021-22!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!