Brock Appleyard notched two points in his return from a lower body injury to lead the Cougars to a 3-1 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies on Shine On night at The Co-operators Centre.

Troy Hunter also had a goal and a helper and Tyler Henry scored his third of the season for the Cougars. Cameron Blair replied for the Huskies.

Box Score

The Cougars opened the scoring in front of a sold-out Co-operators Centre crowd, as Hunter took a feed from Appleyard and went flying down the left side. Hunter's initial attempt was stopped but he managed to get his stick on the rebound and beat Ryan Holfeld for his second marker of the season.

The Huskies looked flustered for most of the opening frame, as the roar of the crowd and the relentless pressure from the Cougars looked to overwhelm the visitors.

The provincial rivalry came into full effect late in the first period, as Gore made an impressive save that was followed by some extracurriculars in front.

It was the Huskies that came out of the skirmish with the advantage, sending only one player to the box while Cody Fowlie and Ward Szucki were assessed roughing minors. Schneider took another penalty shortly later, and the Huskies were awarded a two-man advantage. 

The Cougars managed to kill off both penalties, highlighted by another sprawling save by Gore.

The Huskies bounced back in the second frame, controlling possession in the Cougars end for the better part of the opening six minutes. Gore was saved by the iron twice in that span, as Husky attackers found the post and then the crossbar. 

Despite the pressure from the Huskies it was the Cougars that found the back of the net again. Hunter sent the puck back to the point from behind the net and Brody Luhning put it on net. Appleyard was moving through the slot at the time and got a piece of the shot, deflecting it past Holfeld for his second point of the game.

Regina added to their lead early in the third when Sonntag cleared the puck out of the Cougars zone and Tyler Penny chipped it forward. Henry collected it and broke in on the odd-man rush, before hesitating and snapping a low shot to the back of the net. Henry's marker extended the Cougar lead to 3-0.

The Huskies replied shortly after, as Holfeld played a puck and made a long pass that bounced off the boards near centre ice right to Blair. Blair went in a beat Gore with a quick wrist shot shrinking the lead to 3-1.

The Huskies pressed in the last few minutes but could not solve Gore, who made 31 saves between the pipes for his second win of the season.

Holfeld stopped 29 shots in net for the Huskies.

Regina moves to 3-10 with the win. The Huskies fall to 5-8.

The two teams will battle again on Saturday night in Saskatoon, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at Rutherford Rink.