SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatchewan Huskies welcomed the Trinity Western Spartans to Merlis Belsher Place on Friday night for their first head to head match up of the Canada West season. The Huskies were looking to build on their undefeated start to the season and showed their dominance with a 5-0 win. 

Starting in goal for the Huskies was third year Roddy Ross. The Meadow Lake, SK product has been in goal for four of the six Huskie wins, making 82 saves for the Dogs. The Spartans went with first year Leon Sommer in net. 
 
The Huskies started with a quick goal off the jump from forward Vince Loschiavo to give the Dogs the lead five minutes into the game. Cade Hayes would add to the Huskie lead midway through the period.
 
Loschiavo found the net again with a beauty of a pass from Josh Pillar, giving the Huskies the 3-0 lead over the Spartans heading into the second period. 
 
Second period was a defensive battle with neither team making much headway. With less than four minutes remaining in the second period, Ty Prefontaine found Dawson Holt, who's sniper of a shot sailed past Sommer to extend the Huskies lead 4-0. Shots on goal would be 21-16 in favour of the Huskies. 
 
Pillar had the lone goal of the third period, with help from Chantz Petruic, to push the Huskies lead to 5-0. The Spartans had their best opportunity of the night with just over a minute left in the third, when the Spartans slid one past Ross. The goal was called off due to a Spartan defender in the crease.  
 
"He is a really skilled player. He was drafted to the WHL for a reason and we're really happy to have him," said Saskatchewan Head Coach Brandin Cote about Josh Pillar, who had two assists and a goal on the evening. He's in a really good spot here and he's fitting right. He's enjoying himself out on the ice and he's performing to a high level." 
 
Cote said he'll be sticking with the game plan for tomorrow's rematch. "I think we just need to clean up the turnovers and that's an easy fix. We have to stick up for each other, as they're trying to get under our skin. Roddy made some good saves and our defence is performing so it'll be similar game plan tomorrow."
 
NEXT UP
Game two of the series against the Trinity Western Spartans will get underway Saturday afternoon at 5:00 PM at Merlis Belsher Place. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com and can be listened to live on HuskieFan.ca. Fans can check out the live stream on CanadaWest.TV.