WHKY | Huskies down Dinos in Game 1

SASKATOON – Camryn Drever made 30 saves to lead the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team to a 2-1 win over the University of Calgary Dinos in Game 1 of their Canada West quarter-final series at Merlis Belsher Place. 

Friday’s series opener came as advertised with Drever playing a starring role against one of the most dangerous offensive units in the country. Calgary’s forward line of Courtney Kollman, Elizabeth Lang, and Sydney Mercier produced some of the best-scoring opportunities of the game – but the Huskies’ goaltender was up to the test.

“[Drever] is very good and she has a history of stepping up in a big-time game. It is going to be a good challenge for us to try and crack her and show a little more desperation,” said Dinos head coach Josh Gosling. “There is a reason why this team is hosting nationals. Our team is learning how to play through the checks, through the body, and play tough playoff hockey.” 

A rematch of last year’s quarter-final that saw the Huskies defeat the Dinos in two games, the road team came out strong and pressured Drever with 14 first-period shots. The fifth-year puck stopper was perfect through 20 minutes, including a point-blank save on Lang.

At the other end of the ice, a Calgary turnover created the series’ opening goal three minutes into the opening period. Mallory Dyer started the play and then ended it, as she disrupted a breakout by the Dinos, collected the puck, and wristed it over the shoulder of Gabriella Durante.

“We were really focused on having a good start. We are all excited to play playoff hockey – it is a completely different game and the intensity is a lot higher,” stated Dyer. “We had an easier time building off what we had already established rather than playing from behind.”

Sophie Lalor nearly made it 2-0 in the first but was denied on a breakaway by Durante. The Calgary goaltender finished the afternoon with 22 stops.

Redemption came for Lalor halfway through the middle frame when she set up the Huskies’ insurance marker. From the right side wall, Lalor spotted Kendra Zuchotzki atop the hash marks where she wired the puck past Durante. 

As time ticked away in the third period, a blast from the point by Kate Wagner cut the deficit to one and brought the Dinos back to life. 

The final 10 minutes of the game saw the Huskies under siege, but as she had earlier in the contest, Drever held off the Calgary attack.

Saskatchewan now leads the series 1-0 and will have a chance to advance to the conference semifinals on Saturday. 

“They are going to come out super hard and we have to be ready to start like we did today,” said Dyer. 

The Huskies host Game 2 of the Canada West quarter-final on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST.