Last year, when the Canada West Women’s hockey schedule was released, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies saw just how challenging their first few matches would be.
“There was a very real opportunity playing B.C. and Alberta that we could play really good hockey and come out 0-4,” noted interim head coach Robin Ulrich, who is filling in on coaching duties on Steve Kook’s sabbatical year.
However, the Huskies rallied to beat UBC 5-3 after a 4-0 loss in their season opener, and then swept the Alberta Pandas in their home opener weekend series.
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Captain Lauren Zary, who has a goal and an assist on the season thus far, noted how tough the start has been for the ‘Dogs.
“We got some bruises and battled it out these last couple of weekends, but to be able to come out the way we did, it looks good going forward”.
Not to be left out of the conversation is Huskies goaltender Cassidy Hendricks, who stopped 55 shots in the double-overtime and shootout victories against Alberta.
“We leaned on Cass a lot there, she definitely kept us in that hockey game and let us win”, noted the captain.
Second year forward Rachel Lundberg scored her first university sports goal after being the only rookie in 2015 not to find the back of the net.
“It was amazing, no words for it, it feels like a big weight off my shoulders. I’m hoping I can do it again sometime soon”.
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These win’s move Saskatchewan into the CIS Top 10. Leading the Canadian rankings are McGill, followed by UBC and St Mary’s. But the Huskies aren’t letting it get to their head.
“We don’t stop until we’re number one. We gotta keep working, keep trusting our systems,” Zary said.
This weekend, they’ll get a chance to improve their 3-1 record against the Lethbridge Pronghorns who only have one victory this season.
But as Ulrich observes, Lethbridge is not a team to be taken lightly.
“You might have games where you outshoot them 50 to 10 and you find yourself loosing 1-0 or you’re in a 1-1 game going to overtime.”
“Its usually low scoring, as many pucks as we can get on net will help out the team”.
The squad makes the trip to Lethbridge for the double-header this weekend. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. MT.
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