The Huskies men’s hockey team celebrated after scoring seven goals in their 2013 playoff debut against the Manitoba Bisons.

Huskies’ captain Brennan Bosch scored a hat trick to lead his squad to a 7-1 home victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons in the first game of the teams’ Canada West semifinal series Friday, Feb. 22 at Rutherford Rink.

The Dogs now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three playoff series.

Manitoba seemed to be stuck in the penalty box for much of the first two periods. The team took nine penalties in the opening 40 minutes.

Bosch capitalized on Manitoba’s faults, scoring two of his three markers on the powerplay. He also added an assist to cap a four-point night.

Huskies forward Derek Hulak added another five points for the Huskies with two goals and three assists, while Kyle Bortis recorded four helpers in the win. Matthew Spafford and Brandon Herrod also beat Bisons goaltender Jesse Deckert.

Despite being granted a bye through the quarter-final round for finishing second place in regular season play, the Dogs seemed fully prepared: they scored four goals in the opening period.

The teams each tallied a single marker in the second period, including a shorthanded goal from Manitoba’s Brodie Melnychuk to make it 5-1 after two periods.

Bosch counted the Huskies’ final two in the third frame to cap off a big opening game for the Dogs.

Deckert made 28 stops for Manitoba while Ryan Holfeld saved 26 of 27 in the win for the Huskies.

Game two is tonight at 7 p.m. in Rutherford Rink. The Bisons are playing for their playoff future, while another Huskies win tonight will send the Dogs to the Canada West final series to meet the winner of the other semifinal series between the Calgary Dinos and Alberta Golden Bears.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf