Files from U of S Sports Info
SASKATOON - It was a tough road trip to Vancouver in November for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
Now in their own barn, the Huskies are looking to avenge a sweep by the UBC Thunderbirds Friday and Saturday at Rutherford Rink. On November 13-14, the T-Birds defeated the Huskies 3-2 in a shootout and 4-3.
The No. 8 ranked Huskies, who clinched a playoff spot last weekend, enter with a 12-5-3 record and have their eyes set on second place in the conference. They sit just five points back of the University of Manitoba Bisons. Four straight wins by the Huskies combined with Manitoba gaining just three or less points in their next four games, would give the Huskies the home playoff date.
UBC is fighting for the final playoff position with the University of Regina Cougars, sitting just one point back with a 7-12-1 record. The T-Birds enter after being swept by the Bisons in Vancouver.
Since 2004-05, the Huskies are 12-7-3 against the T-Birds in their 22 meetings.
“We didn't play our best in B.C.,” said Huskie head coach Steve Kook. “UBC is a good team and a better team than their record indicates. They have got a lot of skill and are a fast skating team. We hope we can play a little bit tougher than we did last time.”
Breanne George has been lighting up the Canada West scoring seven points in last weekend's Huskie sweep of the Cougars. George was named the Canada West and CIS Female Athlete of the Week for her efforts. She now sits second in scoring in the conference with 34 points – a conference-high 21 goals and 13 assists.
Four other Huskies sit in the top 15 in scoring in the conference. George's linemates Julie Paetsch sits fourth with eight goals and 17 assists and Kelsey Tulloch is 12th with three goals and 12 assists. Danny Stone is sixth with 10 goals and 11 assists and Huskie captain Chelsea Purcell sits eighth with eight goals and 10 helpers.
Tamara Pickford leads the T-Birds in scoring with six goals and 10 assists.
Lisa Bonang is next in line for UBC with four goals and nine helpers.
The matchup will feature two strong goaltenders. Both veterans, UBC's
Melinda Choy and the Huskies' Vanessa Frederick are hard to beat. Frederick has started all but one game for the Huskies this season and has tallied a 1.86 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Choy has played in all 20 T-Bird games with a 2.61GAA and a .901 save percentage.
Puck drop is 7 p.m. both nights at Rutherford Rink.
-30-
