Posted: Mar 02, 2014
SUNDAY
Saskatchewan 2 Regina 1 (2OT)
(Huskies win series 2-1)
Cougars-Huskies Stats
by Daniel Herrick, Huskies Sports Information Assistant
SASKATOON - The University of Saskatchewan captured their first-ever Canada West championship with a 2-1 double overtime win Sunday at Saskatoon's Rutherford Rink.
Kaitlin Willoughby scored the title winning goal on a slap shot from the top of the circle that deflected off a Regina defender's stick in front of the net before going five-hole on Cougar goaltender Jennifer Schmidt.
With the 2-1 series win Saskatchewan advances to the CIS Championship March 13-16 hosted by the St. Thomas University Tommies in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It will be the second appearance for the Huskies at the CIS Championship, after making it as Canada West runners up in 2003-04. The Huskies finished fourth.
Willoughby's goal ended a three-game series that featured 17 periods of hockey including the longest-ever Canada West game in Game 2. The series lasted 296 minutes of ice time. All three contests reached at least two overtimes.
Regina's dream playoff run that included two road series win comes to an end with the loss. The Cougars upset the Manitoba Bisons in the first round before knocking off the top seed and the nation's fifth-ranked team, the Alberta Pandas, in the conference semifinals.
Cassidy Hendricks was once again nearly unbeatable in net for Saskatchewan making 39 saves in Game 3 combining for 124 in the series. Schmidt played well again for Regina making 40 saves on the night to total 122 in the series.
Seeding for the CIS Championship will be released early next week.
huskies.usask.ca
SATURDAY
Regina 2 Saskatchewan 1 (4OT)
Cougars-Huskies Stats
by Daniel Herrick, Huskies Sports Information Assistant
SASKATOON - Alexis Larson scored in the fourth overtime in Game 2 of the Canada West Final to give the Regina Cougars a 2-1 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the longest-ever Canada West women's hockey game, Saturday night in Rutherford Rink.
Larson controlled the puck at the Huskie blueline after a failed Huskie clearing attempt. With Huskie goaltender Cassidy Hendricks screened in front, the Cougar defenceman sent a high wrist shot to the net. The shot made its way through the crowd, just over Hendricks' blocker and into the back of the net at 12:30 of the quadruple overtime frame.
With the win, the Cougars forced Game 3 in the best-of-three conference final.
Game 2 lasted 1:31:30 seconds and set a new Canada West record for longest game ever played, breaking the previous record by 36 minutes. An extra 62:30 of overtime played on the night. Puck drop was at 7 p.m. local time and ended with Larson's goal at 11:53 p.m. for a total of four hours and 53 minutes. The longest CIS women's hockey game in history last over five hours and 15 minutes in 2011.
Cassidy Hendricks finished the night with 39 saves, while her counterpart, Jennifer Schmidt made 43.
Puck drop on Game 3 is set for 7 p.m. at Rutherford Rink. It can be watched on http://canadawest.tv
huskies.usask.ca
FRIDAY
Saskatchewan 1 Regina 0 (2OT)
Cougars-Huskies Stats
SASKATOON - Saskatchewan's Marley Ervine scored the game's lone goal with 22 seconds left in double-overtime to lift the Huskies 1-0 over the Regina Cougars in Game 1 of the Canada West final on Friday at Rutherford Rink.
Looking like the teams were content to send the game to a third overtime period, Ervine received a break when the puck landed on her stick at the blue line. Using speed to skate in her quick shot beat Cougars netminder Jennifer Schmidt ‘s glove into the top left corner for the win at 19:38.
With the 1-0 series lead, Saskatchewan will look to capture their first-ever Canada West Championship on Saturday night in Game 2. The winner of the series will also earn the lone conference berth to the CIS Championship March 12-14.
Strong goaltending by both Schmidt and Huskie netminder Cassidy Hendricks was the difference in the evenly matched battle.
Hendricks earned her second shutout of the Canada West playoffs stopping all 46 shots faced. Schmidt was equally as impressive at the other end of the ice making 39 saves for Regina.
Puck drop on Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday. Game 3, if needed, is slated for 7 p.m. Sunday. The games can be viewed on canadawest.tv.
huskies.usask.ca
About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, winning 100 CIS national titles over the last 10 seasons. Comprised of 17 schools from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. canadawest.org / canadawest.tv / @cwuaa on Twitter
A proud member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).