Levi Cable’s goal 61 seconds into overtime lifted the Saskatchewan Huskies to a 1-0 win over the York Lions on Friday at the U Sports men’s hockey championship in Fredericton, N.B.
The victory comes exactly one year after the Huskies beat the Carleton Ravens in the longest game in national championship history, a four-overtime thriller that ended on a Parker Thomas goal.
This time the Dogs avoided a marathon and are now two wins shy of their first national title since 1983.
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The quarter-final contest was a classic goaltender’s duel, with Saskatchewan’s Jordon Cooke and York’s Mack Shields alternating highlight-reel saves throughout regulation.
The Huskies outshot the Lions 32-24 but it was Cooke who stole the show.
Late in the first period the two-time national goaltender of the year made a toe save on Scott Feser before diving back to his left to get a glove on Daniel Nikandrov’s bid, preventing what appeared to be a sure goal with just 0.5 seconds left on the clock.
In the second period Cooke was at it again, stopping Derek Sheppard on a clear-cut breakaway. Not to be outdone, Shields, a Saskatoon native, flashed his glove on Huskies forward Josh Roach with 19 seconds remaining in the middle frame.
The teams traded chances in the third, but neither was able to break through until Cable found the net in overtime. Shields initially appeared to have made the save, but the puck trickled through and the Huskies poured off the bench in celebration.
With the victory Saskatchewan advances to the semifinals, where they will face either the St. Francis-Xavier Xmen or the McGill Redmen, who play later Friday.
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