SASKATOON - In a clash between two programs who have combined to win the last 23 Canada West titles, it was the University of Alberta Golden Bears who prevailed with a 3-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Jan. 3 at Merlis Belsher Place.
 
The loss snaps the Huskies drive for nine consecutive wins, with the defeat being their first since Oct. 26.
 
Tyler Soy scored twice for the visiting Golden Bears, his eighth and ninth of the season, while Grayson Pawlenchuk recorded his 12th goal of the season. Trevor Cox, Dalton Hamaliuk, Curtis Miske, Steven Owre and Clayton Kirchenko each added helpers in the win.
 
The Golden Bears recorded their third straight victory, moving the program to 15-2-0 on the year.
 
The Huskies, who entered the night in a tie with the Calgary Dinos for second place in the Canada West, remain at 24 points in the standings with an 11-4-2 record.
 
Soy opened the scoring in the late going of the opening frame, with the second-year forward scoring his eighth goal of the season. Hamaliuk sprung the former Victoria Royal in alone on Kozun, who proceeded to go backhand-forehand finding the five-hole of the 2018-19 U SPORTS Goalie of the Year.
 
Alberta controlled the play throughout the majority of the first period, with Saskatchewan being outshot 13-3 in the first twenty minutes of the game.
 
Much like the opening frame, Kozun was the story of the period in the second. The netminder single-handedly kept the Huskies within one as the Nipawin, Sask., native stood on his head, stopping all 21 shots he faced in the second.
 
After going 0-2 in the first period the Huskies penalty kill unit was able to hold the Golden Bears power play at bay in the frame.
 
 
But just 1:05 into the third, Alberta extended their lead. Pawlenchuk showed tremendous patience in walking out in front of the crease, as he out-waited Kozun to make it 2-0.
 
Just 51 seconds later, Soy tallied his second of the game to extend the Alberta lead to three.
 
The two quick Golden Bears goals, which both came 1:56 into the third, were enough to sink the Huskies, halting any of the momentum they gained off the backs of Kozun's sensational second period.
 
Alberta and Saskatchewan will take the ice for the second time in as many nights on Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place as the Huskies will search for the series split.