Courtesy: Liam Richards/Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics

By Wray Morrison

CAMRYN DREVER AMONG HUSKIE GRADUATING PLAYERS

T-Birds defeat Huskies in consolation final

Mar 18, 2024 | 5:56 AM

The Huskie women’s hockey team’s season came to an end on Sunday morning. The UBC Thunderbirds downed the U of S 4-1 in the consolation final of the 2024 GFL U SPORTS women’s hockey championships, presented by Connect Energy at Merlis Belsher Place.

Saskatchewan’s graduating captain, Kennedy Brown, tied the game at one with a goal at the 6:19 mark of the first period after Ashton Thrope opened the scoring for UBC. The Huskies then got into some penalty trouble and UBC took advantage. T-Bird veteran, Grace Elliott, was penalized for body checking, injuring Huskie defender Isabella Pozzi on the play. Brooklyn Stevely of the Huskies took exception and took a 4-minute penalty in the process. The Thunderbirds scored the first of two power-play goals when McKenzie McCallum scored at 12:25 to make it a 2-1 game.

The Thunderbirds outshot the Huskies 9-5 in the second period and scored an insurance goal on another power-play advantage. Elliott, who had 21 points for UBC in 28 regular-season games, beat Huskie goaltender Camryn Drever with 1:38 remaining in the middle frame to make it a 3-1 game after 40 minutes.

The shots on goal were 9-9 in the third period. Saskatchewan had one power play chance midway through the final frame but could not capitalize. With two minutes remaining, Drever came out of the U of S net for the extra skater, but Cassidy Rhodes of the T-Birds slid the puck into the empty cage.

UBC goaltender, Elise Hugens, got the win with 17 saves. Drever, the 2023-24 Canada West player of the year and 2^nd team all-Canadian, made 23 saves. Drever, who had a conference-best .954 save percentage in the regular season is one of six players graduating from the Huskie program.

Award winner

Melfort Senior Public Health Inspector receives recognition

7h ago

Preliminary hearings set

Preliminary hearing dates set for two local murder cases

8h ago

BDO Debt Solutions

Addressing the Rising Cost of Living in Saskatchewan: A Guide for Residents Facing Financial Pressure

8h ago

U of S head coach Steve Kook was asked about Drever’s contributions to the team. “She just sets a whole new level of expectations with her level of performance in that position. We are going to miss her as a person and as a leader.”

Brown along with Kara Kondrat, Kenzie Lausberg, Sophie Lalor and Isabella Pozzi are the graduating players from the program. “It’s a special group”, said Kook. “They’ve been through adversity and hard times. (Covid-19 pandemic) They’ve been to two national championships, some players don’t get to do that once in their careers. This day is really about them for sure.”

–

The Concordia Stingers won their second U SPORTS women’s hockey championship in the last three years with a 3-1 win over the University of Toronto Blues in Sunday evening’s gold medal game at Merlis Belsher Place. Rosalie Begin-Cyr had a goal and an assist for the Stingers, while goaltender Jordyn Verbeek made 19 saves for the win.

The Montreal Carabins claimed the bronze medal on Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 shoot-out win over the Waterloo Warriors. After a 10-minute overtime session, Montreal’s Kelly-Ann Nadeau scored the only goal of the shoot-out.

—

wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

X/@wraymorrison