VANCOUVER – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies remain just one of two undefeated Canada West teams after beating the UBC Thunderbirds by a 4-0 score on Saturday night. Jordan Fransoo collected his first career CIS goal before adding another while goaltender Jordon Cooke backstopped the Huskies to their second consecutive weekend sweep en route to a 36-save shutout. Jesse Ross and Sean Aschim completed the trio of Huskies' goal scorers.
A pair of rookies went head-to-head in net Saturday evening, as
Eric Williams started for the Thunderbirds and Cooke for the Huskies. It was Williams' first career CIS appearance after playing the last four seasons in the WHL with Prince Albert and Spokane finishing his career with a record of 98-66-14.
Formerly a Kelowna Rocket, Cooke had a superb season before joining the Huskies, winning the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award as well as being named a WHL First Team All-Star before receiving an invitation to the LA Kings Development Camp in July. Both teams elected to split the workload between their two net minders after Ryan Holfeld and
Matt Hewitt started Friday's game.
Both goalies stopped 14 shots a piece in the opening frame as the neither team was able to convert on its power play chances, with the Thunderbirds going 0-for-2 and the Huskies 0-for-1. It's interesting to note that Saturday's game was the only Canada West game so far this season that had a scoreless opening period.
Saskatchewan was able to draw first blood as Ross beat Williams 9:07 into the middle frame thanks to helpers from John Lawrence and Matthew Spafford, the latter riding a three-game point streak. With the Huskies getting on the board first, the T-Birds have conceded the first goal in three of the team's opening four games.
The Huskies would double their lead heading into the second intermission as the younger of the two Aschim brothers scored his first of the year giving the home side some breathing room with 20 minutes to play.
The Huskies peppered Williams with 20 shots in the second period and a total of 34 shots on net through two periods of play. The Thunderbirds also tested Cooke, forcing the rookie goaltender to make 25 saves through two to keep UBC off the score sheet.
The Zamboni was still warm when the Huskies struck again just 0:44 into the third period, as Fransoo, the former Victoria Royals captain, converted on the Huskies' third power play of the game. Four minutes later, the 2011 Ottawa Senators' draft pick would wreak more havoc on the T-Birds potting his second of the game, again on the power play. Josh Roach collected assists on both goals, and now has five assists through the first four games of the season. The markers were Fransoo's first career goals in the CIS after making the transition from the WHL
The Huskies certainly didn't make it easy on themselves, however, giving the Thunderbirds six power play opportunities, none of which the visiting team could capitalize on. With that said, the Thunderbirds did manage 36 shots on the Huskies net, their highest single-game total of the season.
Despite both teams combing for ten power play opportunities on the night, there were 40 minutes of total penalties handed out thanks to a number of offsetting roughing minors. Saskatchewan finished 2-for-4 while UBC was blanked going 0-for-6.
Williams finished the night with 33 saves on 37 shots. UBC sits in sole possession of sixth in the Canada West and will look to rebound at home next weekend.
The undefeated Huskies remain tops in the Canada West, tied with Mount Royal, both with records of 4-0-0 while the Thunderbirds fall to 1-2-1, earning a single point out of a possible four during the team's first regular season road trip.
The Thunderbirds will enjoy the luxury of returning home for the next two weekend series, the first of which will be against the unbeaten Mount Royal University Cougars.
