DORIAN GEIGER
Sports Editor

Something just wasn’t clicking for the Huskies men’s hockey team during last year’s Canada West campaign.

When the Huskies men’s hockey team fell to the Manitoba Bisons in the semi-finals of the 2009-10 Canada West post-season, it marked the Dogs’ first playoff series loss at home in 17 consecutive series — it was evident something was astray in the land of Huskies hockey.

Maybe the six new recruits the Huskies scooped up over the off-season will be able to restore some of the hockey program’s zeal.

Picking up defencemen Ryan Funk (Kamloops Blazers), Curtis Kulchar (Everett Silvertips) and Garrett Thiessen (Prince George Cougars) should aid the Huskies on the blue line, while the departed goaltender Jeff Harvey will be replaced by Ryan Holfeld (Medicine Hat Tigers).

On the offensive end of things, the Green and White snagged forwards Cody Smuk (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Craig McCallum (Prince Albert Raiders).

Funk, who enjoyed four seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, split his fifth and final season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Kamploops Blazers before joining the Huskies.

“After playing with the Blades for four seasons, I had great connections to the city,” Funk told Huskies Athletics.

“I have strong leadership abilities and am strong defensively. It will be a little different not being the older guy on the team. But I like the CIS game and look forward to stepping up and using my speed and strength to help the Huskies,” added the 188 lb. defenceman from Morden, Man.

Funk, who enrolled in the College of Arts and Science, amassed 15 goals, 56 assists and 454 penalty minutes over the duration of his 276-game WHL career.

Recruit net-minder Holfeld will have some big shoes to fill in the absence of Harvey. Hofeld opted to travel south after his eligibility expired to play with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League in Louisiana.

Holfeld spent four seasons in a Medicine Hat Tigers uniform before saddling up with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. Over the course of his WHL career, Holfeld put up a 2.85 goals against average and posted a .896 save percentage, while also clinching a WHL championship in 2007 with the Tigers.

“The Huskies are a quality team, are always at the top of the standings and are close to my home,” commented Holfeld, who hails from Leroy, Sask.

The Green and White open up the CIS season on Oct. 1 and 2 when they travel to Regina to face-off against their provincial rival the Cougars.

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photo: Robby Davis