SASKATOON, SK – Kicking off 2024 Saturday night at Merlis Belsher Place the Saskatchewan Huskies (11-5) played host to the Regina Cougars (4-14) in a U-Prairie Challenge match-up. Coming into the game the Huskies sat in 4^th place in Canada West standings, while the Cougars are 6^th.  The season series between these two clubs has seen the Huskies win both games, 5-2 October 20^th here at Merlis Belsher Place and 3-2 October 21^st at The Co-operators Centre in Regina.   
 
The Huskies came into tonight's game riding a 2 game skid, dropping a pair on home ice just prior to the term one break, while the Cougars also came in on a 2 game drought.  Both teams looked to change their fortune.
 
The Huskies and Cougars went back and forth all night, but the Huskies goal scoring was just too much for the Cougars as the Dogs' pulled out a close 5-4 win at Merlis Belsher Place. The Huskies are now 3-0 over their prairie rival. 
 
After tonight's game the current standings in the U-Prairie Challenge are the Saskatchewan Huskies 9 and the Regina Cougars/Rams 1.
 
THE HIGHLIGHTS

• Captain Shane Collins (1) opened the scoring for the Huskies 9:35 into the opening frame with a nice shot from the hash mark.  That goal marked captain Collins 1^st goal of the 2023-2024 season.
• Regina evened the score with 2:05 left in the second period when Christian Riemer (1) slipped one past Ross in what was a goal crease scrum.
• The Huskies took lead at 6:39 of the second period with a power-play goal with just 2-second left with the extra attacker when Keaton Sorenson sniped to give the Huskies the 2-1 lead.
• Keeper Curtis Meger was stellar in a five-minute stretch in the middle of the second period where he slammed the door on numerous point-blank Huskie scoring chances to keep the Cougars within one.
• Moments later, the Cougars took advantage of a 2 on 1 where Griffin Asham-Moroz (2) put one past Roddy Ross to even the score at 2.
• With just 1:15 left in the 2^nd period, Huskie 2^nd leading goal scorer Vince Loschiavo (9) put one past Meger to give the Huskies the one goal lead (3-2) heading into the final frame.
• The Huskies extended the lead at the 16:15 minute mark of the 3^rd period when Reed Jacobson (1) scored his first U SPORTS goal with a wicked backhand to give the Huskies the 2 goal lead.
• The lead was short lived as the Cougars Kade Runke (4) went top shelf on Roddy Ross 4:54 into the 3^rd period to bring the Cougars back to within one, 4-3.
• With Justin Ball off for a four minute kneeing penalty, the Cougars Paycen Bjorklund (5) tied the game at four with the man-advantage.
• The Huskies replied with 4:01 remaining in the third when point leader Chantz Petruic (7) buried one to regain the one goal lead, 5-4.  Petruic's goal was the game-winner.

THE STATS

• Roddy Ross got the start in net for the Huskies, while the Cougars countered with Curtis Meger. Coming into the game Ross had the 2^nd best GAA in Canada West at 1.95.
• Final shots on goal were 32-25 in favor of the Huskies.
• The Huskies were 2/5 with the man-advantage, while the Cougars went 1/6.
• Tonight's attendance at Merlis Belsher Place was 1402.

THE STANDINGS
Following tonight's game the Saskatchewan Huskies record stands at 12-5, with the Regina Cougars dropping to 4-15 in Canada West standings.

THE NEXT ONE
The Huskies return to the ice tomorrow evening, 6:00 PM for a rematch with the Cougars at The Brandt Centre in the Queen City, in what will surely be a U-Prairie Challenge battle.
The U Prairie Challenge presented by SaskMilk is a celebration of varsity sport in Saskatchewan. This annual points-based competition between the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan involves 11 different men's and women's events, including soccer, football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. 
The Huskie will return to home ice Friday January 26^th at 7:00 PM and Saturday January 27^th at 5:00 PM versus the rival Alberta Golden Bears at Merlis Belsher Place and tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com.

2024 GFL U SPORTS WOMEN'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP presented by CONNECT ENERGY
The Saskatchewan Huskies are proud to host the 2024 GFL U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championship presented by Connect Energy. The national championship will be held at Merlis Belsher Place on March 14-17, 2024. Ticket packages are available at HuskieTickets.com.