University of Saskatchewan Huskies have more depth than they have had in years as they head into a new U Sports Canada West conference men’s hockey season.
They’re a little bit older, more experienced and a lot deeper.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies find themselves with more depth than they have had in years as they head into a new U Sports Canada West conference men’s hockey season.
The Dogs will open the new season Friday night at home against the provincial rival University of Regina Cougars.
Game-time is 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.
The Huskies were the top Canada West team during the pre-season, posting a 6-1 record with the lone loss coming against the reigning conference champion University of Calgary Dinos, but also a team they beat 6-1 in their first game of the pre-season.
“It’s a balance and you always toy with (trying to play everybody), but at the same time, there really hasn’t been anyone who hasn’t shown that they can’t contribute and play and willing accept the role that they’re given,” said Huskies head coach Brandin Cote, whose team was eliminated last season with a 5-4 overtime loss during Game 3 of a best-of-three Canada West hockey quarter-final series against the rival Alberta Golden Bears.
“From an experience standpoint in the depth positions, I just feel it’s an asset and it can be tough to manage as a coach, but I think we have the group in here to be able to make it work. Even in the pre-season, there were a few games where we only ended up playing three lines and some of it was maintenance but there were some guys who were nicked and banged up.
“So you just never know. You just never know. We’ve been bitten by that in the past and, at times, maybe didn’t have the depth that we needed, but we want to win and we’re committed to that and the guys who are here are committed to that. For now, we’re going to keep what we have and everyone’s been contributing and I expect that moving forward.”
NEW HUSKIE PUPS
The big name among the newcomers is former Saskatoon Blades captain Trevor Wong, who racked up 101 points last season on a team that was one goal short of reaching the WHL final.
Other new faces include goalie Ethan Chadwick, defenceman Logan Bairos and forwards Ethan Regnier (Mount Royal Cougars transfer), Ashton Ferster, Jarrett Penner (Trinity Western transfer), Braxton Buckberger and Quinton Ong.
A VETERAN-LADEN CORE RETURNS
Veterans Roddy Ross and Jordan Kooy return for another season in goal, where they’re joined by Chadwick.
The blueline brigade includes holdovers Ty Prefontaine, Gunner Kinniburgh, Parker Gavlas, Rhett Rhinehart, Landon Kosior, Cole Jordan and Mac Gross, along with rookie Bairos.
Up front, the Dogs welcome back leading scorer Chantz Petruic, Justin Ball, Liam Keeler, Vince Loschiavo, Josh Pillar, Raphael Pelletier, Dawson Holt, Carter Stebbings, Cade Hayes, Keaton Sorensen, Ben Tkachuk and Cohner Saleski.
“A good chunk of our key core guys are back,” noted Cote.
Newcomers include Wong, Regnier, Ferster, Penner, Buckberger and Ong.
“Overall, that depth is going to be really important,” added Cote. “They know where they stand, but they’re going to push and challenge and compete for spots, for ice-time, with some of our other guys.”
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Forward Dawson Holt is entering his fourth season with the Dogs but his first in the College of Medicine.
The all-academic all-Canadian was the Canada West conference community service award winner last season.
He served as the Huskie Athletic Council president for the past three years on top of his community involvement, and has acted as an ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood.
Penner transferred from Trinity Western and is enrolled in the College of Law.
Ong spent four years at Ivy League’s Yale University.
Ball is in engineering.
The majority of the Huskies are studying in the Edwards School of Business.
DOG DEPARTURES
Captain Shane Collins, also in the College of Law, has graduated from the Huskies program.
Also moving on and no longer on the team are forwards Jaxan Kaluski, Jeff Faith, Reed Jacobson and Mark Rumsey, plus D-men Colby Jacquet (Manitoba Bisns) and Evan Bortis.
NEW LEADERSHIP GROUP
Fifth-year Huskies forward Justin Ball takes over from Collins as team captain.
His assistants include Ty Prefontaine and Liam Keeler (away games), Vince Loschiavo and Gunner Kinniburgh (home games).
OUTLOOK GOOD
“Things are looking really good. We have an end-goal in mind — we obviously want to be the next team to win a national championship; we always want to put another Canada West banner in the rafters for sure. Those are ultimate goals. We really break it down to segments and that’s really our approach,” Cote said.
“We just want to win each segment we have based on what our team has laid out there and envisioned. If we do that, I think we’re going to put ourselves in a really good spot come playoff time and take another step in the playoffs.”
The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.