The University of Calgary Dinos men and women’s hockey teams are playoff bound next week, but after three losses and a win during the Crowchild Classic, both teams will face tough tests this week as they wrap up the regular season in a home and home matchup.
Men:
Coming into the Crowchild Classic, the Dinos had a two point lead over the Mount Royal University Cougars and were set to lock second place depending on how well the Huskies played. Down 3-0 through 40 minutes, Mitch Cook put the Dinos on the board, followed by James Shearer and Coda Gordon to tie it up with less than 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
Cougars forward Sean Richardson would add what was supposedly the game winner for MRU, but with 16 seconds left in the game, Kaden Elder would fire one passed Riley Morris for his twelfth of the season and send the game into overtime. It would eventually go into second OT where Ryley Lindgren would get one passed Brodan Salmond and give the Cougars their first win in 5 years.
The rematch took place at Father David Bauer Arena where the Dinos were not able to pick up a win, losing 3-1 and dropping to 4th place in the Canada West standings that included second place Saskatchewan sweeping the Manitoba Bisons.
Women:
For the first time not only in Crowchild Classic but U Sports history, the Dinos and Cougars women’s hockey teams would headline the big game in front of over 10,000 fans, a new U Sports record for women’s hockey. The atmosphere would help the Dinos as Brooke Dennett and Trechelle Bunn would pick up 2 points and first star Kelsey Roberts made 20 saves to win 4-1.
As for the rematch at Flames Community Arena, it was fairly quiet with the games first goal scored in the second period from MRU’s Kate Hufnagel. Dinos Sara Craven would tie things up in the third to send it to double overtime where Breanne Trotter would score at 2:51 to help the Cougars get some much needed revenge and take the rematch 2-1.
What will happen this week:
The good news for both Dinos hockey teams is that they are playoff bound. The bad news is the men’s side will not join Alberta in the bye-week for playoffs due to being swept by MRU and will have to fight with the Cougars to climb up to 3rd overall. The women’s team on the other hand can re-claim second place if they sweep the Pronghorns and have the Huskies lose at least one game against Regina. Both games are home and home with the men at Father David Bauer on Friday for a 7pm puck drop, followed by the women on Saturday at 6pm.
Whose hot:
Men: Kaden Elder (20 PTS in 23 games as a freshman + scoring the tying goal for UofC to send it to overtime last Thursday)
Women: Elizabeth Lang (Leads the Dinos in PTS + 2 PTS during the Crowchild Classic game & rematch)
Cover Photo: Canada West
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