Saskatchewan Huskies to host Canada West hockey finals after thrilling series win

Parker Gavlas put the Huskies on the board first on March 2 in a tense game three semi-final, scoring his first-ever Canada West playoff goal. (Courtesy: Canada West TV)

After a pressure-packed elimination game on Sunday night, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies survived to advance to the Canada West hockey conference finals.

The Huskies men’s hockey team faced the UBC Thunderbirds in a thrilling best-of-three series that saw high stakes and high emotions throughout each contest — showcasing some of the best college hockey has to offer.

When the dust settled, Saskatchewan came away with a hard fought 2-1 series win, capping it off with a victory on Sunday night at Merlis Belsher Place.

The defending champion Thunderbirds came into game one showing no fear of a Huskies team that had won 12 straight games on home ice, and had not lost at Merlis Belsher since before Halloween.

Game one was a see-saw battle. After three lead changes, Saskatchewan got the game-tying goal in the third period to send it into overtime.

But in the extra frame, Huskie goaltender and Canada West All-Star Roddy Ross came out to play the puck and didn’t get enough on it — causing a turnover in front of the Huskies net.

Sasha Mutala from the T-birds easily put the puck home for the overtime winner to give UBC a 1-0 series lead.

Facing elimination in game two, once again the T-birds scored first and held a 2-1 lead with less than five minutes remaining.

That’s when the Thunderbirds’ Jonny Lambos was handed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct, setting up the Huskies for a late powerplay.

During the final minutes, Chantz Petruic and Vince Loschiavo lit the lamp with power play goals to give the Huskies a 3-2 win and sending the series to a final game three.

In a tense elimination game Sunday, the Huskies scored first when Parker Gavlas drove the net to put home his first ever playoff goal.

Less than three minutes later, Dawson Holt got a nice feed from former Saskatoon Blade Josh Pillar to put away his third career playoff marker.

Chris Douglas would get UBC on the board in the second period to cut the Huskies lead in half.

But Saskatchewan would regain the two-goal advantage courtesy of another former Saskatoon Blade. Trevor Wong was sprung for a breakaway, scoring his first playoff goal as well, and what would eventually be the game winner.

The Thunderbirds kept coming back, with Cyle McNabb scoring an unassisted goal with ten seconds left in the second period to cut the Huskies lead to one.

In the third, the Huskies would get a little insurance from Chantz Petruic who got his third goal of the playoffs, bringing Saskatchewan to a 4-2 lead.

Saskatchewan would not look back. They held on to win game three and advance to host the conference finals this weekend against Mount Royal.