SASKATOON, Sask. - Tomorrow night (Oct. 4), Merlis Belsher Place will play host to Canada West regular season hockey for the first time in 236 days when the Saskatchewan Huskie men's hockey team goes up against the Regina Cougars to kick off the 2024-25 season.
2023-24 Season Recap
Regular Season: 20-6-2 / 4th in Canada West
Canada West Playoffs: 1-2 / Lost to ALB in CW Quarterfinal
CW Team Ranks: Offence - 3rd (124 GF) / Defence - 2nd (62 GA)
Regular Season Leaders (
RETURNING):
Points -
Chantz Petruic (39)
Goals -
Vince Loschiavo (15)
Assists -
Chantz Petruic (25)
Wins -
Roddy Ross (11)
2024-25 Canada West Coaches Poll
| 1. |
UBC Thunderbirds |
| 2. |
Alberta Golden Bears |
| 3. |
Saskatchewan Huskies |
| 4. |
Calgary Dinos |
| 5. |
Mount Royal Cougars |
| 6. |
Manitoba Bisons |
| 7. |
MacEwan Griffins |
| 8. |
Regina Cougars |
| 9. |
Trinity Western Spartans |
Friday's home-opener will mark the first of a 28-game regular season schedule for the Huskies. The Dogs will be one of nine programs from across Western Canada vying for one of the six playoff position in the Canada West postseason. This year, the Canada West conference moves to a divisional format that will see the top three teams in the East and West division advance to the playoffs with the top seed in each receiving a first round bye. The best-of-three quarterfinal series will then see a cross over between divisions. Following the semifinal round, the two teams left standing in the conference finals will also earn entrance into the 2025 U-Cup Men's Hockey Championship. This year's national tournament is set to take place in our nation's capital with the University of Ottawa serving as hosts.
The 2024-25 edition of the Huskies will see key players such as
Chantz Petruic,
Landon Kosior,
Vince Loschiavo, and
Roddy Ross among others, join forces with an exciting recruiting class featuring the likes of
Trevor Wong (Saskatoon Blades),
Logan Bairos (Kamloops Blazers), and
Ashton Ferster (Kamloops Blazers). Ranked third in the Canada West coaches poll, this year's roster has the size, skill, and speed to matchup with seemingly any team in the conference and will be put to the test early this season with a doubleheader against the No. 4-ranked Dinos in week 2 of the season.
"This year's team possesses a great mixture of experience and youth," said Brandin Cote, who is entering his third season as head coach of the Saskatchewan Huskie men's hockey program. "When you look at the roster, there is skill and depth at every position which is really exciting. This season and with this group, we're looking to take another step towards success and put ourselves in a position to win a Canada West title and National Championship."
2024-25 Huskie Men's Hockey Recruiting Class
(No. / Position / Eligibility / Year / Major / Hometown / Last Team)
Logan Bairos / #7 / Defence / 1 / Business / Saskatoon, SK / Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Braxton Buckberger / #26 / Forward / 1 / Arts & Science / Saskatoon, SK / Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)
Ethan Chadwick / #32 / Goalie / 3 / Arts & Science / Saskatoon, SK / Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Ashton Ferster / #21 / Forward / 1 / Agriculture & Bioresources / Shellbrook, SK / Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Quinton Ong / #5 / Forward / 5 / Arts & Science / Saskatoon, SK / Yale Bulldogs (NCAA-DI)
Jarrett Penner / #29 / Forward / 4 / Law / Saskatoon, SK / TWU Spartans (U SPORTS)
Ethan Regnier / #13 / Forward / 1 / Business / Prince Albert, SK / MRU Cougars (U SPORTS)
Trevor Wong / #8 / Forward / 1 / Arts & Science / Vancouver, BC / Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
"We have an exciting group of new recruits this year that feature a great mixture of skill and character," said Cote. "A number of guys are local players with ties to the community as well which is always exciting for the program."
FORWARDS
The Huskies boast an impressive group of forwards with plenty of skill, speed, and experience. Leading the way is the Canada West second-leading scorer in 2023-24,
Chantz Petruic. Petruic, a fourth-year business major from Moose Jaw, totaled 39 points last season, good enough for second in the conference and trailing only the U SPORTS Player of the Year. The former Birmingham Bull was a consistent force last season but really came on in the second half of the campaign, scoring 20 points in the final 10 games on his way to a second team All-Star nod. Joining Chantz as one of the best scorers in the conference was
Vince Loschiavo, who returns for his fifth season in green & white. The product of Winnipeg finished the year with a team-high 15 goals and 32 points, both top-10 in Canada West. The Dogs will also see every one of their top 10 scorers from a season ago return to the team, adding to the optimism around the Saskatchewan attack.
In addition to returning so much fire power from last season, the Huskies welcome an exciting group of forwards to compliment returning student-athletes. Leading the way is former Saskatoon Blades captain
Trevor Wong. in Wong, the Huskies add an explosive playmaker who is fearless in his willingness to drive the net, evidenced by his incredible 101 points on the Blades last season. Forward
Ashton Ferster, a former Kamloops Blazer, will also trade in his WHL colours for green & white this season.
DEFENCE
A fantastic mix of experience and youth makes the Huskie defence corps for the 2024-25 season. The group is led by returning 2023-24 Canada West All-Rookie
Landon Kosior (Regina, SK), who will look to follow up an impressive rookie campaign this year. A consistent presence on the ice, Kosior recorded nine points (4 G, 5 A) last year after joining the DOgs from the Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL) and Prince Albert Raiders (WHL). Alongside Kosior is
Cole Jordan (Brandon, MB), another defenceman who returns for his sophomore season. Jordan, a former Moose Jaw Warrior (WHL), finished top-10 in scoring by defenceman last season, totaling 17 points (2 G, 15 A) with his impressive two-way play.
The Dogs also add an experienced and skilled defender from the Kamloops Blazers in
Logan Bairos. The local product and 5-foot-10 blueliner spent five seasons with the Blazers, and most is coming off a season in which he totaled 37 points in 68 games. A smart, competitive two-way defenceman that will bring character and experience to the Saskatchewan locker room with 221 WHL games and a Memorial Cup appearance on his resume.
GOALIES
The Huskies have the benefit of returning both goalies from a season ago who totaled a combined 20 wins in
Roddy Ross (Meadow Lake, SK) and
Jordan Kooy (Bradford, ON). The pair nearly split time right down the middle last season with Ross appearing in 15 games and Kooy taking the ice in 14. For Ross, the 2023-24 season saw him establish himself as one of the best goalies in the conference, posting a 1.96 goals against average (2nd in CW) and .922 save percentage (1st in CW). Meanwhile, Kooy also impressed in his 14 starts, posting a 2.33 goals against average (6th in CW) and .915 save percentage (3rd in CW).
The Huskies have also added another proven goalie to the roster in former WHLer
Ethan Chadwick. Local hockey fans wil be familiar with Chadwick as prior to spending last season with the Everett Silvertips, the product of Saskatoon was a member of the Blades. A 6-foot goaltender, Chadwick brings a .890 save percentage and a 3.07 goal against average from 74 career WHL games, 44 of which he won. Chadwick will provide strong depth between the pipes while challenging Ross and Kooy.
Huskie men's hockey season tickets as well as tickets to their home opener on Friday, October 4 at Merlis Belsher Place are available at
huskietickets.com. Fans looking to tune in to the Dogs' on the road Saturday in Regina can catch all the action live online at
CanadaWest.TV.
