Box Score WHCKY: MRU (1) at SSK (2) (OT)

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies upset the Mount Royal University Cougars with a 2-1 overtime win, Saturday night at Flames Community Arena, clinching the semi-finals series. 

"I thought our team played outstanding tonight. Everybody was working together. The energy on the bench and on the ice was incredible, even our teammates in the stands," said Drever. 

MRU was undisciplined in the first period, receiving three different penalties. The first penalty came two and half minutes into the game when Laura Cook was called for hooking. This allowed the Huskies to set up in the offensive zone for a prolonged period of time and register four shots on goal. 

The Cougars did not allow their opponents to get set up on their second power-play opportunity as they pushed the Huskies towards the outside, picked off passes, and blocked shots.

Jori Hansen-Young received a cross-checking penalty late in the first period that extended into the second.

A mad scramble occurred in front of the Cougars' net in search of the loose puck. Maddison Toppe found the puck and attempted to clear it down the ice. Larissa Bohlken intercepted it in the high slot and released a wrister past a screened Zoe DeBeauville.

MRU pushed back, persistently maintaining possession, setting up in the offensive zone, and getting shots on net after going down 1-0. 

Bohlken turned over the puck near the bottom of the right circle. Breanne Trotter picked up the loose puck and roofed it over the right shoulder of Camryn Drever to tie the game up with two minutes left in the second. 

The third period was filled with end-to-end action caused by turnovers in the neutral zone and cross-ice passes springing players open at the blue line. This led to both teams having numerous scoring opportunities but no goals to show for it.

"We played our best; we just couldn't score, said Trotter."

The Huskies scored the series-winning goal four minutes into overtime. Bailee Bourassa released a low wrister hitting off the right pad of DeBeauville. Kennedy Brown one-timed the loose puck up and over the left side of the MRU goaltender. 

"We sustained a ton of pressure. I said this last night; we are a scrappy bunch. We hung around. We just knew it was going to be a goal something like this," said Saskatchewan Head Coach Steve Kook.

The Cougars finished the regular season top of Canada West with an 18-5-0 record. 

"I'm proud of what this group accomplished. We set records, program firsts, but ultimately we fell short of the goal we wanted to achieve this season," said Head Coach Scott Rivett.

Player of the Game: Breanne Trotter