Box Score
Toni Ross made 32 saves, but it wasn't enough as the Regina Cougars fell 1-0 in a shootout to the Saskatchewan Huskies in Canada West women's hockey action on Saturday night.
Huskies' captain Cami Wooster scored the game-winning goal in the shootout, while Cassidy Hendricks made 29 saves for her first shutout of the season.
The first period opened with plenty of intensity from both teams. In the first eight minutes of the game there were 12 minutes in penalties handed out, split evenly between the Cougars and Huskies. Despite both teams having numerous opportunities on the power play, neither managed to score. As the period wore on both teams had difficulties setting up in the offensive zone, with few shots on goal. After twenty minutes the Huskies were just outshooting the Cougars 8-7.
The back-and-forth action continued into the second. Another 14 penalty minutes were served with the majority coming in a five minute span in the middle of the period, resulting in several minutes of four-on-four action. However both Ross and Hendricks continued their solid play in net, and the Cougars and Huskies went into the third tied 0-0.
Both teams continued to pressure in the third. Saskatchewan got a pair of chances on the power play, as
Kylie Gavelin and
Triston Riemer were both sent off for tripping. But Ross stood tall in the Cougars' net stopping everything that came her way. After sixty minutes of play, neither team had managed to find the back of the net.
Overtime saw quality scoring chances for both teams, but Ross and Hendricks continued to put on a clinic as the Cougars and Huskies headed for a shootout. In the first round
Tori Head was denied by Hendricks, while Wooster beat Ross for the first and only time on the night. Despite Ross shutting the door in the next two rounds,
Kendra Finch and
Brooklyn Moskowy couldn't find the back of the net for the Cougars as the Huskies came away with the 1-0 victory.
The Huskies see their record improve to 9-3-2. They will hit the road next week to take on Mount Royal in Calgary.
Meanwhile the Cougars fall to 8-5-1 on the season. They will be back at home next week to host the Calgary Dinos in the final weekend of Canada West hockey before the Christmas break. Opening faceoff at The Co-operators Centre is set for 7 p.m on both Friday and Saturday night.
