Matt Johnson, Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan men's hockey team defeated their provincial rival Regina Cougars by a score of 4-2, on Friday, Oct. 26, at Merlis Belsher Place.
Wyatt Johnson scored twice and added two assists for the Huskies, while Carson Stadnyk and Logan McVeigh tallied a goal and an assist each in the victory. Kohl Bauml and Tanner Lischynsky also recorded an assist each for the home side.
"It's awesome to get back and just be around the guys, it's unreal. I'm just happy to contribute and keep it going from here," said Wyatt Johnson, who missed time last season due to an injury.
Tristan Frei and Zach McPhee scored for the Cougars, while James Hilsendager tallied two assists on the night. Zak Zborosky also added his fourth helper of the season.
Travis Child made his debut between the pipes for the Huskies as he picked up a 28 save win and two points for the home side.
Dawson MacAuley turned aside 41 of 45 shots fired his way on the night for the Cougars.
The victory marks Saskatchewan's fifth-straight victory all of which have come on home ice, which moves them to 6-1-0 on the season. Meanwhile, Regina falls to 2-4-1 with the loss, which snaps the teams two game win streak.
A three-goal outburst in the first frame carried the Huskies.
The Huskies jumped on the board first at the 6:56 mark of the first period as McVeigh fired up a centering pass towards a cluster of bodies in the slot and Stadnyk was able to jam the loose puck home, to put the home side up early.
Just under four minutes later, McVeigh picked up his second point of the night when he deflected a Lishchynsky point shot past MacAuley to put the Huskies up 2-0.
Saskatchewan made it a three-goal lead after a nifty tic-tac-toe passing play was finished off by Wyatt Johnson, with Stadnyk and Bauml adding helpers on the powerplay marker, sending the teams into the first intermission with the hometeam holding sway over the proceedings.
Wyatt Johnson added his second goal of the night as he drove to the cage, held off a Cougars defenseman and finished off a tremendous individual effort when he roofed his wrister overtop of MacAuley to give the Huskies a four-goal lead.
The Huskies entered the second intermission with a 4-0 lead while outshooting the Cougars 35-18 through two periods.
The third period belonged to Regina however, as the team fought back and nearly worked their way back into the game.
The Cougars got on the board with a powerplay goal at 6:18 of the third period as Frei tipped home a Hilsendager blast from the blueline to make it 4-1.
Regina made it a two-goal game just under two minutes later when McPhee re-deflected yet another Hilsendager point-shot, which got past Child at the 8:04 mark of the third period.
The visitors threw everything at the net in the dying minutes despite a flurry of last-minute scoring chances, Child was able to shut the door and secure the victory for Saskatchewan.
Both teams will travel south to Regina for the second half of the home and home between the provincial rivals, with the game taking place at the Co-Operators Centre. That game can be watched live on Canadawest.tv.