Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON – Fourth-year Pandas forward Alex Poznikoff recorded the hat-trick, as the Alberta Pandas Hockey team shutout the visiting Regina Cougars for a second-straight day, earning a 4-1 win on Saturday afternoon.

It marks the first hat-trick for Poznikoff since she recorded three goals in the 2017 U SPORTS National Semifinal. Regan Wright also scored for the Pandas, who earned their third-straight win. Nikki Waters-Matthes scored the only goal for Regina this weekend in the third period.

Alberta swept Regina with wins in all four conference games this season, outscoring the Cougars 17-1.

Rookie Alberta goalie Halle Oswald made 13 saves on 14 shots, earning her seventh win in her 10th game.

Poznikoff opened the scoring on the powerplay in the first, beating a helpless Jane Kish after Autumn MacDougall's initial shot was redirected to Poznikoff.

While the shot clock was relatively even after one (7-5 for Alberta), the Pandas had a vast majority of the scoring chances. Kish made 11 saves in relief in Regina's loss on Friday night, and was easily the best Cougar on Saturday, making a handful of key saves.

Poznikoff doubled the Pandas lead in the second, scoring almost instantly off an offensive zone faceoff, finishing off a sensational centering pass from MacDougall.

Penalties also undid the Cougars this weekend, as Wright added to the Pandas lead with a powerplay marker early in the third. Over the two games in Edmonton, the Pandas went 3/14 on the player advantage.

While their goalie played well, the Cougars in front had trouble generating any sort of offence this weekend. Of the 14 shots they mustered, only the goal late in the third by Watters-Matthes really challenged Oswald. The Pandas held the Cougars to just six shots in the third, with Poznikoff sealing the win with the empty net goal in the final minute.

The Pandas will head on the road next weekend, paying a visit to the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Regina will return home looking to get back in the win column, as they host the Calgary Dinos.