CIS University Cup at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon:

Thursday, March 20
Pool A: #1 Alberta 3 #6 Carleton 2

Pool B: #3 Windsor 4 #2 Acadia 2 (stats)

Friday, March 21
Pool A: #4 McGill 3 Carleton 2 (stats)
Pool B: #5 Saskatchewan 3 Acadia 2
 
Saturday, March 22
Pool A: Alberta 3 McGill 2 (2OT)
Pool B: Saskatchewan 9 Windsor 0
 
Sunday, March 23
Gold: Alberta 3 Saskatchewan 1
 
2014 University Cup / Live Stats / Final Stats

Tournament MVP
Derek Hulak (F), Saskatchewan

All-Tournament Team
Goal: Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, McGill
Defence: Jesse Craige, Alberta
Defence: Kendall McFaull, Saskatchewan
Forward: Brett Ferguson, Alberta
Forward: Derek Hulak, Saskatchewan
Forward: Kruise Reddick, Alberta

SUNDAY

Gold: Alberta 3 Saskatchewan 1

Golden Bears-Huskies Stats

SASKATOON (CIS) - Levko Koper scored twice, including the tournament-winning goal and the insurance marker as the University of Alberta Golden Bears defeated the host Saskatchewan Huskies 3-1 to win a record 14th all-time CIS University Cup men's hockey championship, Sunday afternoon at Credit Union Centre.

Jordan Hickmott opened the scoring for Alberta, while Canada West Player of the Year and scoring champion Derek Hulak replied for the Huskies. Hulak was also named 2014 CIS Tournament MVP and made the All-Tournament team.
 
It was the first national championship since 2008 for the Bears, who were skating in their 19th CIS title match, another all-time mark. With the win, Alberta improved to 6-0 overall this season against its archrival from the Canada West conference.
 
The final was played in front of 6,289 fans at Credit Union Centre, lifting the seven-game total to 41,089, a new standard for the 52-year-old tournament. The previous standard of 40,956 had been set in 2000 at Credit Union Centre, then known as Saskatchewan Place.

The Golden Bears' Ian Herbers became the fifth person to win the University Cup as both a player (1992) and head coach (2014). On the Saskatchewan bench, Dave Adolph was hoping to accomplish the feat, having been a member of the Huskies' only title in 1983.

“It was a long time coming,” said Herbers, who was in his second campaign behind the U of A bench and had won a title as a player with the Bears back in 1992. "The guys worked so hard all year, going back to their off-season training last summer. There's so much leadership in our locker room. The focus and determination of our player was phenomenal."
 
His Saskatchewan counterpart Dave Adolph, whose program's lone CIS title dates back to 1983, was proud of his troops despite the heartbreaking loss.
 
“It's hard to win a national championship. Our guys gave it everything they had. They fought their way to credibility and proved they belonged in this tournament. Today, they just ran into a powerhouse.”
 
The game's turning point came with five minutes remaining in the second frame. Up 1-0 thanks to a Jordan Hickmott goal early in the period, the Bears found themselves down one man for five minutes after Johnny Lazo earned a major penalty and a game misconduct for hitting an opponent from behind.
 
With one minute to go in the major, Koper and James Dobrowolski were able to take off on a two-on-one and Koper took a perfect pass from his teammate before beating netminder Ryan Holfeld with a high wrist shot on the glove side.
 
A few moments earlier, Matthew Spafford came inches away from tying the contest at one all but his backhand shot hit the post to the left of veteran goalie Kurtis Mucha.
 
“I'm not going to lie, on the winning goal, I kind of closed my eyes and hoped it goes in,” said Koper, who was named player of the match for Alberta. It's an amazing feeling. There are no words to describe how we feel right now.”
 
Unfazed by the two-goal deficit, the Huskies needed only one minute to respond and get on the board. Left uncovered in front of the net, Canada West MVP Derek Hulak received the puck from Josh Roach and one-timed it past Mucha.
 
“We gave everything we had for three straight games. We left nothing on the ice, said Hulak, who, despite the loss, merited the Major W.J. Danny McLeod Award as tournament MVP after leading the competition in goals (4) and points (6). “Hats off to Alberta, they're a formidable team.”
 
In the third, Alberta was able to protect its slim lead and Koper finally added an insurance marker with six minutes left in regulation, once again on a two-on-one, this one with Travis Toomey.
 
The Bears finished with a significant 36-21 advantage in shots on goal.
 
In addition to Hulak (4-2-6), Bears forwards Brett Ferguson (1-4-5) and Kruise Reddick (1-4-5), Alberta defenceman Jesse Craig, Saskatchewan rearguard Kendall McFaull and goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard from the McGill Redmen were named championship all-stars.

Championships as Player & Coach
Mike Keenan   (Toronto, 1973) & Mike Keenan (Toronto, 1984)
Graham Wise (Toronto, 1976) & Graham Wise (York, 1988 & 1989)
Rob Daum (Alberta, 1980) & Rod Daum (Alberta, 1999, 2000 & 2005)
Eric Thurston (Alberta, 1986) & Eric Thurston (Alberta, 2006 & 2008)
Ian Herbers (Alberta, 1992) & Ian Herbers (Alberta, 2014)

CIS UNIVERSITY CUP ATTENDANCE RECORDS

Total for the Tournament
1)      41,089 (7 games, Saskatoon, 2014) 
2)      40,956 (7 games, Saskatoon, 2000)
3)      38,347 (7 games, Saskatoon, 2013)
4)      37,184 (7 games, Saskatoon, 1999)
5)      37,121 (7 games, Saskatoon, 1998)
 
Single-Game
1)      12,000 (March 10, 1968, Alberta vs. Loyola, championship final, Montreal Forum)
2)      10,331 (March 28, 2005, Saskatchewan vs. Alberta, championship final, Rexall Place, Edmonton)
3)      10,152 (March 25, 2000, UNB vs. Saskatchewan, pool play, Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon)
4)      9,465 (March 15, 2013, Alberta vs. Saint Mary's, pool play, Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon)
5)      9,249 (March 27, 1998, Alberta vs. Windsor, pool play, Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon)
 
Note: Saskatchewan Place is now Credit Union Centre

2014 University Cup Attendance
Game #1 Alberta vs. Carleton: 6,102
Game #2 Windsor vs. Acadia: 2,008
Game #3 McGill vs. Carleton: 8,304
Game #4 Saskatchewan vs. Acadia: 8,104
Game #5 Alberta vs. McGill: 3,041  
Game #6 Saskatchewan vs. Windsor: 7,241
Game #7 Alberta vs. Saskatchewan: 6,289
TOTAL: 41,089

SATURDAY

Alberta 3 McGill 2 (2OT)

Redmen-Golden Bears Stats

SASKATOON (CIS) – Johnny Lazo scored 16 minutes and 22 seconds into the second overtime period to propel the top-seeded Alberta Golden Bears to the gold-medal final of the CIS men's hockey championship thanks to a 3-2 win over the #4 McGill Redmen Saturday afternoon in front of 3,041 fans at Credit Union Centre.
 
With the win, Canada West champion Alberta finishes atop Pool A with a 2-0 record and will play for the University Cup Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time, live on Sportsnet.
 
The Bears hold the all-time mark with 13 CIS titles and will skate in their 19th championship match on Sunday, another record. They last triumphed in 2008, losing the 2010 final to Saint Mary's since then.
 
McGill returns home with a 1-1 record, while Carleton placed third in the pool at 0-2.
 
Lazo broke a 2-2 tie when he was able to get free in front of the net and tip a Kruise Reddick centering pass past McGill netminder Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, who was sensational throughout the duel as his team was outshot 55-20, including 22-3 in the third period.
 
“I was just in the right spot and the right time,” said Lazo of his game-winning goal. “It's such an amazing feeling. We played so well the entire game, it would have been a shame to drop that one.”
 
Kruise Reddick and Brett Ferguson also scored for Alberta.

Gervais-Chouinard was fantastic in net for McGill making 52 saves and taking home player of the game honours for the Redmen.

Ian Herbers, head coach of the Golden Bears immediately turned his attention to tomorrow's championship final during the post-game press conference.
 
“We got to get recharged here, the coaches will be here watching the game. Our plan is to come out at 1:30 tomorrow, play our game and give everything we have, just like we did today,” said Herbers.
 
Siemens, who was making his first start of the tournament after backing up veteran Kurtis Mucha Thursday against Carleton, made 18 saves for Alberta in the winning effort, while Ferguson was named player of the game for the Bears.

Saskatchewan 9 Windsor 0

Lancers-Huskies Stats

SASKATOON (CIS) – The tournament host University of Saskatchewan Huskies dominated the Windsor Lancers 9-0 Saturday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 7,241 at Credit Union Centre to qualify for the CIS men's hockey national final for the first time since 2005.
 
The University Cup will be on the line Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time when the fifth-seeded Huskies (2-0) face their archrivals, the top-ranked Alberta Golden Bears (2-0), live on Sportsnet and on the web at www.cis-sic.tv.
 
Alberta holds the all-time mark of 13 CIS men's hockey titles and will skate in the 19th championship match, another record, while Saskatchewan claimed its lone banner in 1983 and will compete for CIS gold for the sixth time.
 
The two Canada West opponents have faced off in the title game only once in the past, on March 28, 2005, when the Bears erased a 3-1 third period deficit in front of the second-largest crowd in University Cup history – 10,331 - at Rexall Place in Edmonton to prevail 4-3 in overtime. In was also the only previous final between CWUAA rivals. The largest was 12,000 in 1968 at the Montreal Forum.
 
“The guys really wanted it tonight. If we offer this kind of performance tomorrow, you never know, anything can happen. We'll have to be at our best, that's for sure. Alberta is a formidable opponent,” said Saskatchewan head coach Dave Adolph, who was part of the Huskies' triumph as a player in 1983 and whose troops are 0-5 overall this season against the Bears.
 
Eight different players scored for the Huskies, including Canada West player of the year Derek Hulak with a pair, and Kendall McFaull, Andrew Bailey, Craig McCallum, John Lawrence, Ryan McDonald, Joshua Roach and Cody Smuk with singles.
 
Hulak (2-1-3) and McCallum (1-2-3) had three-point nights, while Jesse Ross picked up four assists.
 
Ryan Holfeld made 19 saves to earn the shutout. At the other end of the ice, Parker Van Buskirk turned aside 25 pucks.
 
Saskatchewan led 2-0 after the first period and 6-0 after 40 minutes.
 
Hulak was named the Huskies player of the game for the second straight night.
 
“[I am] Just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win,” said Hulak, the tournament leading scorer heading into the final with three goals and two helpers.

Hulak's brother, Dan, was named a CIS Tournament All-Star in 2005.

FRIDAY

Saskatchewan 3 Acadia 2

Huskies-Axemen Stats

SASKATOON - Derek Hulak scored with 2:02 left in regulation, the game-winning goal of a 3-2 win over the Acadia Axemen in Friday's opening game for the tournament host University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Saskatchewan (1-0) plays Windsor (1-0) on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time, live on Sportsnet 360, to determine which advances to Sunday's gold medal final. At 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, the Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears (1-0) take on McGill (1-0), with the winner also advancing to the championship game, 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Credit Union Centre.

Alberta is the last Canada West team to win the CIS men's hockey title, in 2008, and remains the most decorated team in the sport's history, while Saskatchewan, which failed to make the final as host last season, won its only University Cup in 1983.

Acadia and the Carleton Ravens both finish the tournament at 0-2.

The Huskies were skating in their first game in 26 days after being eliminated in the first round of the Canada West playoffs by UBC on Feb. 23.
 
Hulak, the reigning Canada West player of the year and scoring champion with 48 points in 28 league games, corralled team captain Brennan Bosch's pass in the neutral zone and came in down the left wing, cut hard to the middle, evaded the poke of goaltender Evan Mosher and slide the puck into the open cage sending the pro-Huskie crowd into euphoria.
 
“This one definitely ranks up there,” said Hulak, when asked to rate how this goal compares to others he has scored in his career.
 
The Axemen, who came into the tourney as Atlantic conference champs, pulled their goalie with 1:50 remaining in the game but were unable to get the equalizer. A late hooking penalty against Brett Thompson with 1:08 left sealed Acadia's fate.
 
Brennan Bosch and Cody Smuk also scored for Saskatchewan.
 
Both goalies made key saves to keep the game close. Holfeld finished the contest with 26 saves in the winning effort, while Mosher made 27.
 
Hulak was named player of the game for the Huskies, while Thompson  earned the honour for the Axemen.

University Cup Champions

THURSDAY

Alberta 3 Carleton 2

Golden Bears-Ravens Stats

SASKATOON (CIS) – The top-seeded University of Alberta Golden Bears got off to a strong start scoring three first period goals en route to a 3-2 win over the #6 Carleton Ravens in the CIS men's hockey championship opener at Credit Union Centre.
 
With the win the Golden Bears (1-0) take an early lead in Pool A and will face the McGill Redmen Saturday at 2 p.m. Saskatchewan Time, live on Sportsnet 360 and on the web at www.cis-sic.tv.
 
Carleton (0-1), which is making its first-ever University Cup appearance, takes on McGill Friday at 1 p.m. Saskatchewan Time.
 
Alberta opened the scoring a minute and 29 seconds into the contest on a Jordan Rowley tally. The third-year defenceman, who was named the top rearguard in Canada West this season, jumped into the rush and deflected Brett Ferguson's shot past Carleton netminder Francis Dupuis.
 
The Golden Bears increased their lead with a power play goal at 6:31. Ferguson dangled his way through the neutral zone before centering a pass to rookie forward T.J. Foster, who beat Dupuis stick side.
 
Carleton cut the Golden Bears lead in half on a Joe Pleckaitis power play tally with just over five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. With Ian Barteaux in the penalty box for hooking, the Ravens were able move the puck freely in the Alberta zone. Pleckaitis' seeing-eye shot found its way through a screen and beat Alberta's Kurtis Mucha over the glove.
 
The Golden Bears restored their two-goal advantage on a Travis Toomey goal with just over three minutes remaining in the opening stanza. Toomey's marker stood as the game winner.
 
Damien Cross gave the Ravens hope late in the third period. Carleton entered the zone quickly, Cross fed a streaking Plecktaitis, whose shot beat Mucha but rang off both posts before Cross batted the puck into the open net. Carleton nearly tied the game on a late power play shot from Matthew Stanisz but Mucha found the puck through a screen and made the kick save.
 
“We found out last year that this game, Thursday, is the hardest game.” said Alberta head coach Ian Herbers, whose team was upset 2-1 by Waterloo in its 2013 opener despite outshooting the Warriors 43-13. “Last year we didn't capitalize [on our chances], I like that we came out and scored right away and got the momentum.”

Players of the Game were T.J. Foster for Alberta and Carleton's Francis Dupuis.
 
The Golden Bears controlled play for much of the contest out-shooting the Ravens 41-17, and held Carleton to just two shots on goal in the second period.

huskies.usask.ca

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, 11,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 55 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca.

About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, winning 96 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

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