HKY: ALB goalie, MRU forward excellent in top-tier match-ups
Oswald, Stevenson named CW Players of the Week
CALGARY – Alberta's Halle Oswald and Mount Royal's Blake Stevenson were named the Canada West Hockey Players of the Week by the conference on Tuesday.
Oswald was a difference-maker in a pair of wins as her then third-seeding Alberta Pandas squared up against the second-ranked Mount Royal Cougars over the weekend.
The goaltender was the solution to the challenge posed by the one of the conference's top offences.
Oswald posted 21 saves, allowing just a single goal Friday evening to help her team to a 4-1 win on the road. Her .955 save percentage was a main storyline as the Pandas scooped up their 13th win of the season.
She returned Saturday with the same energy, this time turning away 25 shots to guide Alberta to the weekend sweep. She again allowed a single goal, frustrating MRU's league-leading scorers.
The two key wins move Alberta past Mount Royal into second place in Canada West.
Oswald and the Pandas will be back on the ice on Jan. 13 & 14 when they host Trinity Western at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. MST. You can catch the action on Canada West TV.
Game log:
Jan. 6: 21 saves, .955 S% in 4-1 W at MRU
Jan. 7: 25 saves, .961 S% in 3-1 vs MRU
Meanwhile, Blake Stevenson helped his Cougars push their way up the standings with two big victories over the reigning CW champions in the Alberta Golden Bears.
Stevenson scored two crucial goals for the Cougars in their Friday evening match-up, finding the back of the net twice within three minutes in the first period. His efforts proved instrumental as the Cougars and Golden Bears found themselves forced to a shootout, where MRU secured the win.
Stevenson then helped set the tone for his team Saturday, firing a quick shot past the Golden Bears defender and goaltender to open the scoring. Mount Royal went on to win 4-2, completing the weekend sweep with Stevenson their star.
He and the Cougars will be back on the ice on Jan. 13 & 14 when they host the Manitoba Bisons at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m. MST respectively. You can catch the action on Canada West TV.
Game log:
Jan. 6: 2 goal in 6-5 OTW at ALB
Jan. 7: 1 goal in 4-2 W vs ALB