MHKY: Saskatchewan Huskies claim 12th Canada West banner

Recap by University of Saskatchewan Sports Information

SASKATOON, Sask. - For the first time since 2020 and the 12th time in program history, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies are Canada West champions. 

Vince Loschiavo scored the would be game winner with 10:09 remaining in the third period while Roddy Ross recorded a 30 save shutout in game three of the Canada West Finals to lead the Huskies to a 3-0 victory and a 2-1 series win.

"It's an unbelievable feeling as a coach," said 2025 Canada West Coach of the Year Brandin Cote. "It's just rewarding to see everything culminate and come together and all the buy in from our guys all year. We stuck with it and I'm really, really proud of our guys."

"We just stuck with it. That has sort of been the mantra for a while, be patient. At times we sat back on our heels a little bit too much, they were pushing, but we had to weather the storm. Roddy stood tall and then we took advantage of some opportunities and they broke. That's what good teams do, they find a way. It doesn't have to be perfect, you just have to find a way."

In what was tense first period, neither team was able generate sustained pressure with both the Huskies and Cougars struggling to connect passes in the offensive zone. The Cougars would be the first to find their footing in the elimination game, generating a few quality chances but Canada West Goaltender of the Year Roddy Ross was excellent in his crease as the Meadow Lake, Sask. product kept the visiting team off the board.

The second opened with the Huskies immediately rewarded with a powerplay opportunity after the Cougars were caught with too many men on the ice. Despite the early chance, the Cougar penalty kill held strong, not allowing a single shot on goal. 

Just past the midway point of the period, the Cougars were awarded their first man advantage of the game after the Huskies got called for interference. Mount Royal was held scoreless, thanks in large to the play of Ross between the pipes. The Dogs also saw their best scoring chance up until that point of the night when Justin Ball was left wide open in front of the MRU net after a Dawson Holt shorthanded rush. The second would come to end with the game still scoreless, setting up a dramatic finish to the 2025 conference championship.

It was then that after 50 minutes of scoreless hockey Vince Loschiavo broke the ice. It was a fantastic play from Chantz Petruic to find Loschiavo breaking into the offensive zone, threading a pass through sticks. Loschiavo then fired a knuckler of a wrist shot over the glove of Mount Royal goaltender Shane Farkas and into the top right corner of the Cougar net. The game's opening goal was Loschiavo's third of the postseason and the fifth game three goal of his career. 

Just four minutes later the Dogs doubled down. It was Jarrett Penner who sparked the second score of the game, laying a huge hit on MRU's Remy Aquilon to take the defender of the puck. Former Cougar Ethan Regnier then picked up the loose puck in front of the visitors net, switched to his forehand to pull Farkas out of position, and slid the puck under his pads for his second of the series against his former teammate. 

Farkas would leave the net with 3:37 remaining but an immediate Cougar penalty on the ensuing faceoff would put Mount Royal on the back foot trailing by two. With 1:16 remaining, Saskatchewan's Ty Prefontaine iced the game, sending a long distance shot into the empty Cougar net.

The Huskies now turn their attention to the 2025 U SPORTS University Cup Championship set to take place from March 20-23, 2025 in the nation's capital at TD place.

CW Final - Game 3 Highlights