In their eighth annual Play For The Cure night, the women’s hockey team defeated the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns by a score of 4–2, while also raising money for two cancer foundations.

Ditching their traditional green and white digs, the Huskies donned slick, custom orange and black jerseys for the special occasion. The orange represented Acute Myeloid Leukemia, while the black paid tribute to the late Huskie hockey player Cody Smuk.

Using a distinct speed advantage, the Huskies were able to control the flow of the game and outshoot the Pronghorns 34–26. Some timely saves from netminder Cassidy Hendricks had the Dogs in good shape for a huge three points in the standings. Fifth-year defenceman Julia Flinton led the way with three assists and five shots on goal, and she also dominated in the defensive end.

Head coach Steve Kook was proud of his squad’s effort, particularly on such a special night.

“The players informed me that was our first win on a Play For The Cure night in five years. Regardless of the outcome, our Play For The Cure night is always a good thing,” Kook said. “One of the things we said as a coaching staff is ‘the best way to honour the Play For The Cure night is by playing the way you guys did,’ not the three points and getting the win, but just playing the way the team did tonight.”

Although the Huskies skated to a big win, they had an even bigger win off the ice. The team raised money by having a raffle draw and auctioning off the game-worn jerseys from every player on the team. Using that money, in addition to donations, the team will be donating a few hundred dollars to both KidSport in honour of Smuk and Andrea Dipple’s “Dollars for Dipples” fundraising campaign as she battles leukemia.

Flinton, an assistant captain for the Huskies, recognized the magnitude of the contributions the team is able to make off the ice.

Out of action since Nov. 28, 2015, the Dogs showed little signs of rust, lighting the lamp twice in the first 12 minutes of the game. With the top ranked powerplay in the country at work in the first period, Leah Bohlken ripped a point shot past the screened goalie to give the Huskies a 1–0 lead. The Huskies powerplay entered the contest operating at 29 per cent, and ended up 2–7 in the game.

Lethbridge had an excellent chance to even the game when Kirsten Reeves found herself on a breakaway and tried to deke, but Hendricks stuck out her left pad and made the best save out of her 24 in the game.

Just 1:45 after the opening goal, Kori Herner found herself in the right place at the right time as Flinton’s hard point shot snuck through the Pronghorns’ goaltender. Herner was in perfect position to find the loose puck and bury it for her fourth goal of the season. Saskatchewan took a 2–1 lead into the intermission.

The speedy line consisting of Marley Ervine, Lauren Zary and Kaitlin Willoughby caused fits for Lethbridge all game, as they dominated puck possession every time they stepped on the ice. They finally broke through late in the second period, when Zary made a beautiful feed on a two-on-one and Ervine tapped it in to restore the Huskies’ two-goal lead. This was the game-winning goal, as the Pronghorns got one back late before Willoughby iced it with an empty-netter.

Kook knows utilizing their speed is an important element of the team’s winning formula.

“We’re a fast team and we need to play that way, and I thought we did tonight. We put a lot of pressure on their defenceman and their goaltender thanks to our group speed,” Kook said.

Although they hadn’t played a competitive game in 40 days, Flinton thought the team did an excellent job of staying in shape over the break and didn’t let any rust affect them.

“Our preparation beforehand was key, and staying fit over break. Our break was perfect, it was only 10 days,” Flinton said. “It gives you enough time to go home and relax and maybe let go of some things that didn’t go your way in the first half, but also it keeps you motivated to get back to work.”

After they completed the weekend sweep the following night, the Huskies found themselves second in the conference with an 8–5–3–2 record. They are back in action on Jan. 15 and 16, on the road to take on the Calgary Dinos.