The Huskies celebrating after their 2-1 overtime win against Regina Nov. 9.

The number one nationally ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team lost 2-1 in the second half of a home-and-home series with the Regina Cougars Nov. 9 and 10.

The Huskies lost for the first time since Oct. 12, ending their winning streak at six games.

Goals from Matt Strueby and Ryan Dech, along with a solid 19-save performance from Regina’s goalie Lucas Gore, pushed the Cougars past the Huskies 2-1 at the Co-operators Centre in Regina.

Strueby opened the scoring in the dying minutes of the first period, scoring on a back-handed shot that beat Huskies goalie Ryan Holfeld.

Huskies defenceman Zak Stebner knotted the game at one midway through the second frame on a long point shot that beat Gore over the shoulder.

But Dech, a rookie defenceman for the Cougars, scored the final goal of the game four minutes after Stebner’s tying marker. The goal was the first of Dech’s university career.

In the first game of the weekend the Huskies narrowly beat Regina 2-1 in overtime at Rutherford Rink.

After a scoreless first two periods, Dogs forward Kenton Dulle gave the homeside Huskies the lead just under nine minutes into the third frame on a wrap-around goal.

Regina equalized the score when Brayden Nargang scored six minutes later.

The game was forced into extra time when defenceman Cody Hobbs scored to give the Dogs the victory.

Regina ended the weekend by picking up three out of a possible four points on the top ranked Huskies. The Dogs drop to second place in the conference standings with a 8-2 record as Regina nips at their heels in third place with a 6-3-1 record.

The Huskies will play next in Calgary to battle the 5-5 Dinos Nov. 16 and 17.

Photo: Raisa Pezderic