SASKATOON, Sask. - For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskie men's hockey team and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds are set to face off in the Canada West Playoffs.
HUSKIE MEN'S HOCKEY
Canada West Playoffs | Semifinal Series
Saskatchewan Huskies (23-5-0 - East No. 1-seed) vs UBC Thunderbirds (18-8-0, 2-1 - West No. 2-seed)
Game 1 - Friday, February 28, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Game 2 - Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Game 3 - Sunday, march 2, 2025 | 6:00 PM *if necessary*
TICKETS |
CANADAWEST.TV |
HUSKIEFAN.CA |
LIVESTATS |
CW PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
After a weekend of waiting to see who their opponent would be in the Canada West Semifinals, the Huskies finally have an answer in the UBC Thunderbirds. The T-Birds defeated the MacEwan Griffins in their Quarter-Final Series last weekend after taking games two and three following a series-opening OT loss.
Friday's series opener will serve as the third meeting between Saskatchewan and UBC this season, the 236th all-time meeting, and the eighth time the two storied programs have taken the ice together in the postseason. In their seven shared playoff games (3 shared series), the Huskies own a significant advantage with a record of 5-2, which includes their most recent meeting in 2019-20, which saw the Dogs capture the 11th Canada West title in program history with a 2-0 series sweep.
In their two regular season games this season, the Dogs and T-Birds split their weekend doubleheader in Vancouver, BC. UBC captured a 3-0 shutout win on home ice before the Dogs answered with a come-from-behind 3-2 shootout victory. In what proved to be a weekend of milestones, that Huskie win allowed the Dogs to eventually capture the best record in the conference for the first time since 2018-19, while the loss was one of just two shutout losses the team suffered all season.
With the best record in Canada West, the Huskies also captured home-ice advantage throughout the duration of their conference playoff run, meaning the path to to Canada West glory runs through Saskatoon. While home-ice advantage can provide a boost for any team in the postseason, it might mean a little more for the best team on home ice in the conference.
Saskatchewan lost just one game at Merlis Belsher Place all season, and it came in just their second home game of the season. Since then, the Dogs have been unstoppable in their home rink, scoring 73 goals and allowing just 23 while winning their last 11 in Saskatoon.
For the winner of this weekend's semifinal series, the Canada West Final and U-Cup National Championship in Ottawa, ON, await as the two teams featured in the conference championship also gain admittance to the national tournament.
Head-to-Head vs UBC
All-Time: 151-80-4 Huskies
Last 10 Meetings: 5-5
Playoff Record: 5-2 Huskies
Last Playoff Meeting: Def. UBC 2-0 (3-2, 3-1) in 2020 CW Final
2024-25 Record: 1-1-0 (Feb. 2025)
Game 1: L 0-3 -
BOX SCORE
Game 2: W 3-2 (SO) -
BOX SCORE
2024-25 Head-to-Head Stats
(2 Games)
| SSK |
|
UBC |
| 58 |
Shots |
59 |
| 54 |
Saves |
46 |
| 2/6 |
Power Play |
1/7 |
| 6/7 |
Penalty Kill |
4/6 |
Team Stats (Conference Rank)
|
SSK (23-5-0) |
UBC (18-8-0, 2-1) |
| GF |
120 (3rd) |
111 (4th) |
| GA |
61 (1st) |
77 (5th) |
| DIFF |
+59 (1st) |
+34 (4th) |
| P10 |
9-1-0 |
6-3-1 |
| PP% |
31.1% (1st) |
17.8% (7th) |
| PPOP |
122 (2nd) |
118 (3rd) |
| PK% |
89.4% (1st) |
75.4% (6th) |
| TSH |
104 (3rd) |
122 (T-3rd) |
Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
Last 5 Games
| SSK (4-1) |
UBC (2-3) |
| 02/15/2025 |
W, 4-2 vs MAN |
02/23/2025 |
W, 4-3 vs GMU |
| 02/14/2025 |
W, 2-1 vs MAN |
02/22/2025 |
W, 3-1 vs GMU |
| 02/08/2025 |
W, 3-2 (SO) @ #4 UBC |
02/21/2025 |
L, 3-2 (OT) vs GMU |
| 02/07/2025 |
L, 0-3 @ #4 UBC |
02/15/2025 |
L, 2-4 @ CGY |
| 02/01/2025 |
W, 5-4 (OT) @ GMU |
02/14/2025 |
L, 0-4 @ CGY |
