Both teams came out firing, but blocking shots and disrupting passes was the name of the game early on. Both teams had power-plays, but couldn't convert despite getting chances. A Saskatchewan forecheck would propmt the first goal as Kate Ball lifted a defender's stick behind the Calgary net on a dump-in that allowed Taylor Wilkinson to chip the puck out front to a wide-open Kelsey Hall, and she went low on the stick side to make it 1-0 for Saskatchewan at 13:37! The seesaw battle would continue for the remainder of the period, but we'd hit the break with the Huskies leading by a goal despite Calgary holding a 7-4 edge in shots.
The second period was realtively quiet despite both sides still looking for more offence. Saskatchewan had the only power-play of the frame, but they couldn't capitalize despite putting more shots on the Calgary net. We did get a clang off a goal post behind Durante, but that's as close as anyone got as the 1-0 score held firm through 40 minutes with the teams tied at 12 shots apiece.
I don't know what was said in the Calgary locker room between periods, but the Dinos came out breathing fire. A face-off win by Dana Wood came back to Keegan Goulet who sent a shot towards Drever that was deflected by Sydney Mercier past the Huskies netminder just 53 seconds into the frame, and we had ourselves a 1-1 game! Calgary didn't let up after that goal as they pushed for the lead, but the Huskies simply would not break thanks to Drever. Chance after chance was denied by the goalie in green-and-white, and that meant we were destined for overtime when the horn sounded as the 1-1 tie remained intact with Calgary outshooting Saskatchewan by a 28-14 margin!
We didn't need long in the extra period to get a winner. Kendra Zuchotzki's pressure forced Brooke Dennett into a turnover at the Saskatchewan blue line, and the Huskies defender was off to the races. She deked Durante, but Durante's toe got just enough of the puck to prevent it from going in. However, Sophie Lalor had raced down the ice, and she chipped the puck in the crease across the goal line just 24 seconds into the overtime frame to give Saskatchewan the 2-1 overtime win over Calgary! Camryn Drever picked up her sixth win of the season while stopping 27 shots in 60:24 of work while Gabriella Durante stopped 13 shots in the overtime loss.
Highlights of this one are below. Thank you, Calgary Dinos!
SATURDAY: Calgary did pick up one point in Friday's tilt with the Huskies, but they were back on Saturday looking for more. The Huskies were looking to strengthen their position in the standings once again with another win in the second-half of the series. Camryn Drever got the nod in the final game of 2022 for the Huskies while Gabriella Durante was closing out 2022 in the Calgary crease.
Before we get too deep into this recap, let me preface this by saying that a smile creeps across my face whenever a former Lethbridge Pronghorns player scores. Just 5:53 in, former Pronghorn Meg Dyer threw a puck towards the net that former Pronghorn Kenzie Lausberg redirected out front, and the Lethbridge combo playing for the Huskies made it 1-0 with Lausberg's first goal for the Huskies in her career, and her first goal since Saturday, October 20, 2018 when she beat Jessica Vance of the Saskatchewan Huskies! Yes, I'm smiling. Lausberg's first Canada West goal in 1505 days deserves a smile.
The game resumed after Lausberg's celebration, and the Dinos looked for the equalizer as Brooke Dennett tore down the right side. She'd slow up and turn back before feeding Annaliese Meier whose quick one-timer handcuffed Drever, but the puck hit iron before Elizabeth Lang swept it into the net at 9:30 to make it 1-1! Despite trading power-plays later in the period, the 1-1 tie carried into the first intermission with Calgary up 11-9 in shots.
The physicality between these two teams always seems to ramp up when they meet, and the second period showed some of that with three consecutive minor penalties to Calgary that kept them from establishing offensive zone time. The third penalty hurt even more when Sophie Lalor's long shot was stopped, but Kara Kondrat got a couple of whacks to slam it home past Durante on the power-play at 13:06 for the 2-1 Saskatchewan lead! However, that lead was short-lived as Calgary caught Saskatchewan in a bad change 1:22 later when Brette Kerley was sent in alone, but Drever made the save. The only problem? The rebound popped out to Jada Leung who made no mistake in potting her first Canada West goal at 14:28 to make it a 2-2 game! That score would hold over the final five minutes as the game remained 2-2 after 40 minutes with Calgary up 23-19 in shots.
The teams traded a pair of power-plays in the period to no effect as Saskatchewan was looking to end this game in regulation with a solid push in the final frame. Neither goaltender, however, had any interest in allowing a goal as both Drever and Durante were equal to the task. When the horn sounded, the game was still tied at 2-2, so we got some free hockey to end 2022 with Saskatchewan holding a 32-31 edge in shots to begin overtime.
The first period saw nothing except a Saskatchewan penalty which they killed, so it was off to 3-on-3 hockey where we would get a winner. After the penalty expired and with four players on the ice for both teams, another poor change for the Huskies allowed the Dinos to find Elizabeth Lang at center ice who hit Alli Borrow at the Huskies' blue line with nothing but daylight between her and Drever. Borrow came in on the right side and went high over the blocker of Drever at 2:55 of double-overtime to end this game as the Dinos ended 2022 with a 3-2 win over the Huskies! Gabriella Durante picked up her sixth win of the season with 34 stops in 67:55 while Camryn Drever made 36 stops in the double-overtime loss.
Before we hit the highlights, apparently the Calgary scorekeepers had Colby Wilson playing this entire game for the Huskies, and they completely missed on one of the two referees on the gamesheet. How can this be submitted as an "official gamesheet" when it has two major errors on it? Figure it out, Dinos. This can't happen. Gamesheets matter.
This highlight package had me smiling because of the Lausberg goal, but also because former Pronghorn Alli Borrow ended the game. I miss that plucky Pronghorns team. Here are the goals!
Things didn't start well for MacEwan as they were shorthanded just 1:13 into the game, and I believe I've warned everyone about the Pandas' power-play. If not, here's your reminder not take unnecessary penalties because, just 17 seconds later, Jadynn Morden found a loose puck in the slot, and she buried it behind Sank for the 1-0 lead. Alberta's momentum was slowed in the latter half of the period as were whistled for a couple of penalties before Madison Willan was excused from the game due to a hit from behind. That's a big piece of the Alberta offence sent off, so could MacEwan capitalize being down 1-0 after 20 minutes? Alberta held a 10-6 edge in shots.
Alberta would get another early goal in this period as Kallie Clouston got a couple of whacks at a rebound off a Jadynn Morden shot before she buried it at 2:53 to make it 2-0 for the Pandas. The Griffins would get one back a few minutes later when Sydney Hughson tipped an Allee Isley shot past Oswald to make it 2-1 at 8:22, but the Pandas would restore the two-goal lead 3:28 later when Clouston struck again to make it 3-1 for Alberta. The final eight minutes would see the battle continue, but the 3-1 score would carry into the break with Alberta leading 22-12 in shots on net.
With Alberta holding a two-goal lead, it was all about limiting chances for MacEwan as the Pandas didn't give up many scoring chances. In preventing chances, Alberta didn't create a lot of their own, but Allison Reich showed some nice hands as she went forehand-backhand-netting behind Sank on a partial breakaway with 4:04 to play to make it 4-1. When the horn sounded, that 4-1 score was the final as the Pandas downed the Griffins. Halle Oswald stopped 16 shots for her ninth win of the season while Brianna Sank was on the wrong end of a 23-save effort.
Alberta's highlight package has no audio. Why? No clue. Narrate as you see fit as you're now hosting SportsCentre.
It seemed like MacEwan was going to get an early break as Alberta was whistled for an infraction just 51 seconds into this game, but MacEwan would take a penalty of their own nine seconds later to end that power-play. That interaction pretty much set the tone for the game as this one was physical with a bit of dirty play mixed in at times. Payton Laumbach would put Alberta on the board at 3:41 off a feed from Madison Willan, and she'd double the lead at 18:22 when she converted an Natalie Rieser pass. Through the opening 20 minutes, Alberta held the 2-0 lead and a 13-8 advantage in shots.
Abby Soyko would score on an early power-play just 1:12 into the second period after MacEwan was whistled for bodychecking at the 59-second mark, and they'd make it a 4-0 game on the power-play a few minutes later when Madison Willan found the back of the net at 5:55. Beyond that point, the parade to the penalty box started. Despite both sides having scoring chances, neither side would dent twine for the remaining fourteen minutes and we'd go to the third period with Alberta up 4-0 and leading 22-13 in shots.
In the final frame, 28 minutes of penalties were called - including a ten-minute misconduct to MacEwan's Mila Verbicky - as neither side found much offensive flow. It looked like both teams needed some time away from one another after the dust settled on a night where 46 penalty minutes were collected by the squads, but Alberta did prevail by that 4-0 score over the Griffins. Misty Rey collected her first win and her first shutout in her first Canada West start with a 20-save effort while Brianna Sank took the loss on 29-save night.
MacEwan is anti-highlights, so let's bring back the other Griffins! Being that it's the holiday season, let's get some carols in here!
Full disclosure: that this recap isn't going to be long because I fell asleep. I know - weak effort, Teebz, but I was tired from a busy day and a poor sleep on Thursday night. Anyway, to the brief recap.
Courtney Kollman scored at 18:36 of the first period, she added a second goal at 3:37 of the second period, and Aliya Johma iced the game with a power-play goal at 18:36 of the third period. Mount Royal played a complete game on Friday night, outshooting the Spartans 30-18 while not allowing them very many opportunities where Ross had to be spectacular. In the end, Mount Royal defeated Trinity Western by the 3-0 score. Kaitlyn Ross stopped all 18 shots for her 11th win and fourth shutout of the season while Mabel Maltais took the loss after a 27-save night.
What I do want to point out is the recap turned in by the Spartans' writer. How is this even acceptable as a "recap"?
Of course, there are also no highlights of this game because Trinity Western only creates highlight reels of their own players scoring. Because of that, let's post a funny hockey commercial in honour of Mount Royal's shutout tonight over the Spartans!
SATURDAY: Trinity Western likely wasn't very happy with their performance one night earlier, so one had to expect a response from them. Mount Royal was looking to close out the 2022 calendar with another victory to continue their push for playoff bye as they aimed for the sweep. Only one team would prevail, though, as Kaitlyn Ross was back in the Cougars' crease to finish off the 2022 schedule while Kate Fawcett had the final start in 2022 for the Spartans.
Both teams started this game very defensively responsible as neither side was giving open looks to their opponents. An early power-play for Mount Royal may have been a missed opportunity, but Trinity Western wouldn't make the same mistake with their power-play late in the period. Off a face-off win by Kailey Ledoux to the middle of the ice, Brooklyn Anderson one-timed the puck past Ross at 17:21 to put TWU up 1-0. 1:28 later, they had twice the lead when Jace Scott centered to Mackenzie Mayo, and her shot hit a Cougars player on the way in as the puck changed directions and caught Ross off-guard. When the horn sounded, that 2-0 Spartans lead was intact with the Spartans leading 7-4 in shots.
Mount Royal came out in the second period more focused as they found seams to get pucks on net. They failed to score on a power-play awarded to them midway through the period, but they would capitalize on a miscue when a TWU turnover ended up on the stick of Morgan Ramsey who went in alone on Fawcett. Her shot was stopped, but Ramsey chipped the rebound past Fawcett on the second chance at 11:47 to make it a 2-1 game. Despite the momentum building for the Cougars, they'd be stopped when the horn sounded as the Spartans carried the one-goal lead into the third period while MRU held a 14-12 edge in shots.
The momentum resumed in the third period as the Cougars showed why they've been one of Canada West's best teams over the last couple of seasons. They pressured the Spartans all over the ice while giving up very few chances, and they'd cash in on the power-play at 12:32 when Kiana McNinch found the puck in the slot and went high on the blocker side to make it a 2-2 game! Trinity Western would respond 49 seconds later, though, as a broken play left a loose puck at the top of the right face-off circle where Chelsea Debusschere stepped into it and ripped it to the back of the net for the 3-2 Trinity Western lead! The Cougars would roar back 1:57 later on a 5-on-3 advantage when Athena Hauck went shelf on Fawcett for the power-play equalizer, and we were tied at 3-3! Time would count down, the horn would sound, and the tie game meant we had free hockey!
The four-on-four period would need nearly the full five minutes to determine a winner, but Aliya Johma's deflection of an Emma Bergesen shot counted as the winner as the puck landed behind Fawcett at 4:43 for the 4-3 Mount Royal overtime win! Kaitlyn Ross picked up her 12th win of the season with a 15-save effort in 64:43 of time while Kate Fawcett made 22 saves in the overtime loss.
Before we get to highlight, I cannot stress that gamesheets need to be correct for statistical purposes. Both goalies did NOT play 65:00 tonight, TWU scorekeepers. They played 64:43 in total. Get it right for accuracy's sake.
Are you looking for Trinity Western goals? Because that's all I've got.
If there's one thing I won't do on The Rundown, it's write up a big recap for a blowout. Teams at this level deserve respect and celebrating a blowout is the opposite of that. Yes, bad games will happen, but it's best just to move on to the next one. In saying that, Friday didn't go well for one side.
Grace Elliott opened the scoring at 15:25 for the UBC Thunderbirds, and they'd continue the scoring in the second period as Mia Bierd scored at 9:02, Ashton Thorpe scored her first Canada West goal at 11:18, and Sierra LaPlante added another tally at 15:10 to pace the Thunderbirds to a 4-0 lead through 40 minutes. Lauren Focht would get one back for Regina at 10:38 of the third period, but UBC would restore the four-goal lead with 28 seconds to play as Chanreet Bassi scored a power-play goal as UBC skated to the 5-1 win over Regina on Friday night. Elise Hugens picked up her seventh win of the campaign after making ten saves while Natalie Williamson was under siege all night as she stopped 45 shots.
UBC doesn't do highlights, so let's throw another fun hockey commercial in here since a Cougars team was involved.
SATURDAY: After yesterday's one-sided affair, it was apparent that these two teams are on different levels when it comes to their play in Canada West this season. If we're being objective, Regina desperately needs points to climb back into the playoff race, but taking them off a well-oiled machine known as the T-Birds was going to be tough. Arden Kliewer was tasked with stopping UBC in this one while Kate Stuart got the final start in 2022 for UBC.
As you know, we're not celebrating blowouts on this blog, so let's just work through this. Jacquelyn Fleming put UBC up 1-0 in the first period at 7:50 before UBC broke this game open in the second period. Kennesha Miswaggon scored at 8:49, Cassidy Rhodes added UBC's third goal at 13:47, and Ireland Perrott made it 4-0 at 16:39. Joelle Fiala opened up a five-goal lead just 23 seconds into the third period, and Grace Elliott made it 6-0 at 3:23. Jadyn Kushniruk would snap Stuart's shutout with 12 seconds to play, but the damage had been done as the Thunderbirds closed out 2022 with a 6-1 win over the Regina Cougars. Kate Stuart stopped 12 shots for her seventh win of the season while Arden Kliewer made 37 stops on a tough night of work.
I thought about posting another funny commercial here, but I think we need something heartwarming since this is the last "highlight" of 2022. In honour of that and in the spirit of family with a women's hockey spin, I present the final hockey commercial for 2022. May it remind you that this game is supposed to be fun and that we're all just big kids who love this game. Enjoy the break!
| School | Record | Points | GF | GA | Streak | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBC | 11-2-3-2 | 30 | 60 | 27 | W2 | JANUARY |
| Mount Royal | 14-3-0-1 | 29 | 50 | 26 | W3 | JANUARY |
| Alberta | 11-5-1-1 | 25 | 48 | 28 | W3 | JANUARY |
| Saskatchewan | 7-5-3-3 | 23 | 36 | 27 | L1 | JANUARY |
| Trinity Western | 7-7-2-2 | 20 | 42 | 44 | L2 | JANUARY |
| Calgary | 5-8-3-2 | 17 | 35 | 44 | W1 | JANUARY |
| Manitoba | 6-9-1-0 | 14 | 38 | 55 | L1 | JANUARY |
| MacEwan | 2-12-1-1 | 7 | 20 | 49 | L7 | JANUARY |
| Regina | 2-13-0-1 | 5 | 21 | 50 | L11 | JANUARY |
Mathematically Speaking
Yes, they can still make the playoffs, but the reality is that both MacEwan and Regina are likely done. Both can still make the playoffs, but any combination of Calgary winning six games or Regina losing six games will result in their elimination from the playoffs based on points. The good news for the Cougars is that their first six games in January are against Manitoba, MacEwan, and Calgary.It may seem like a tall ask, but they could be right in the mix of things with six wins against those teams. Head coach Sarah Hodges will need to get her team steamrolling through December with practice and execution of plays, but seeing the Cougars shouldn't surprise anyone.
As for MacEwan, any combination of Calgary winning seven games or MacEwan losing seven games will end their run this season. Things are a little tougher for the Griffins as they have a home-and-home with the Dinos before playing Regina and Trinity Western. It's not impossible, but the Griffins have to find ways to score.
What makes this task a little harder for both Regina and MacEwan is that if Calgary were to win both games in their respective series, those are four-point games in that a win by the Dinos plus a loss in each game would be catastrophic for Regina and MacEwan. Needless to say, both teams need to beat the Dinos if they hope to have a prayer at the playoffs.
Representing Canada
Another factor to take into consideration in the January schedule is the 2023 Universiade Games in Lake Placid, New York. The women's ice hockey event at the 2023 FISU Games starts on January 11 for Canada as they'll play Slovakia, and there likely will be a handful of Canada West players invited to play for Team Canada.If a player such as Madison Willan from Alberta or Rylind MacKinnon from UBC or Courtney Kollman from MRU is selected, how will that affect those teams being that they'll be with Team Canada for two weeks? One has to wonder, though, if these absences will have an effect on results between teams that have players who go to Lake Placid and teams that do not. Or if a player is injured in Lake Placid and is forced to miss additional Canada West games.
Here's how I look at it: the players chosen are the best of the best in university hockey, so they deserve to wear the Canadian jersey. There's always a risk of injury regardless of where a player steps on the ice - Edmonton, Saskatoon, Lake Placid, or anywhere else. Obviously, it's a huge honour to represent Canada at the FISU Games and I'd never suggest that players should turn down that opportunity for any reason. After all, they earned it and they deserve to go if they're invited. To the players that are chosen, go play and represent Canada with everything you've got! Go Canada!
Coming Soon
Over the next few weeks, I'm going to do a few fun things with respect to Canada West this season. I'll do my annual mid-season Canada West All-Star Game selections, but I'm also going to post a mid-season NHL/Canada West Awards selections. I'm going to use the names of the major NHL awards to keep things clear as we look at top goalie, top rookie, top defender, and most valuable player through the first three months of Canada West hockey.I'll also look at some of the key statistics to which people should be paying more attention such as primary scoring, scoring from defenders and how it relates to team success, scoring first in 2022, and playoff statistical analysis from past seasons. If you like a deeper dive into numbers, I'm going to jump into the deep end of the stats pool and see what we can find.
This will all be posted in December, so keep your eyes on this space!
The Last Word
It's been an exciting season thus far, and everyone deserves a happy holiday this season. Stay safe, study hard, do well on exams, and have the happiest of holidays no matter what you celebrate - Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, Rohatsu, or any other major event. Exams will eat up a lot of time for the student-athletes we cheer for on a weekly basis, but let's not forget to enjoy the company of friends and family when the time allows.I do want to draw attention to the efforts that a lot of schools make in helping those less fortunate as well. That spirit of giving shouldn't be lost following the last couple of years of the pandemic as we all should be looking out for one another, and it appears that a number of schools are going back to their charitable ways by helping those less fortunate. If you can help out with a donation of supplies, money, time, or all three, I highly recommend joining your local university team's effort to help those who need it the most.
Be safe, be responsible, enjoy the break, and we'll resume the recaps in 2023 when hockey hits the ice once more!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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