MAX CRANSTON
Sports Writer

The University of Saskatchewan’s women’s hockey team began their season with wins over the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns on Oct. 8 and 9 at Rutherford Rink.

On Oct. 8 the Huskies had to battle back from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Pronghorns 3-2.

The Huskies opened the scoring only 29 seconds into the game. The 2009-10 Canada West all-star Julie Paetsch scored after gaining possession from the opening face-off. The Huskies quickly got into some penalty trouble, with Lethbridge capitalizing on two power play goals to end the first period.

Entering the second period down a goal, reigning Canada West MVP Breanne George beat two Pronghorns to the net and potted her first goal of the season to tie it at 2-2. Around the halfway mark of the second period, the Huskies regained the lead with a tip-in from Sarah White.

The Huskies outshot their opponents 10-5 in the third period but both teams were unable to score. Rookie Chelsey Sundby rang a shot off the post, as the huskies assaulted the net enroute to their 3-2 win.

Huskies coach Steve Kook only had positive words for the team after their opening night victory.

“The rookies played well,” said Kook.

Rookie Courtney Hillman had no points but finished the game with a plus-three rating and five shots on net.

Breanne George provided a solid performance after her MVP season in 2009-10. She had a goal, an assist, a plus-two rating and eight shots on net.

Kook noted “She had no loss of pace, and played very well.”

The three stars of the game were Mackenzie Rizos, Megan Frohaug and Breanne George. Frohaug finished the game with a plus-three rating (to lead the team, along with Hillman), with an assist and was solid defensively all game.

The number-one star went to Rizos, the Huskies’ new goaltender. The win was extra special for Rizos who is a former Pronghorn. Rizos transferred from Lethbridge for educational reasons but was required to sit out 365 days due to CIS eligibility rules. She did not disappoint in her first game for the U of S. Against her former team she made 22 saves on 24 shots, 12 of which came in the first period. Rizos was glad to have the win, and seemed relieved to have the first game under her belt.

“You need to focus like any other game, you get used to playing against former teams and players growing up in minor hockey. It’s all about confidence.”
-Mackenzie rizos
Huskies Goaltender

“You need to focus like any other game. You get used to playing against former teams and players growing up in minor hockey. It’s all about confidence.”

Rizos certainly was focused and managed not to falter after losing the lead 2-1. The Green and White regrouped defensively in the second and third periods and allowed fewer shots than on Rizos than in the first frame.

In the Huskies second game against Lethbridge the following night, the Huskies claimed a 2-0 win to improve their Canada West record to 2-0. Not a bad feat considering the Huskies are the sole Canada West team to remain unbeaten in the first week of the season.

The Huskies’ rookies took the spotlight, with Courtney Hillman and Chelsey Sundby both rippling the twine in the second period. Hillman continued with another strong performance and scored the Huskies’ first powerplay goal of the year. Rizos finished with a shutout against the Pronghorns.

The Dogs resume action on Oct. 15 and 16 in Regina against the Cougars and return to Rutherford Rink for home games on Oct. 22 and 23 against the Manitoba Bisons.