Men's Hockey | 9/20/2018 11:35:00 PM
The University of Regina men's hockey team came from behind for a 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night as the York Lions began the Mark Cross Humboldt Strong Remembrance Tour in Lumsden.
Cross, who played five seasons at York before becoming an assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos, was killed in the bus crash on April 6.
The Lions are playing a three-game exhibition series in Saskatchewan, with Thursday's match being the first. York will travel to Humboldt to play the Calgary Dinos on Friday before wrapping up the tour in Saskatoon with a clash against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday.
The tour will continue to raise money for the Mark Cross Memorial Sports Fund. The announced total of funds raised on Thursday night was $4,500.
"You definitely feel for those guys, obviously it's an emotional time. I think every guy on our team was affected by the bus crash too," Cougar forward Tristan Frei said after the game.
"Obviously with the speeches, presentation and puck drop it had an emotional feel, but as the game went along it felt like a regular hockey game and allowed us to take another step forward in preparing for the regular season," Cougar head coach Todd Johnson said.Â
Tanner Campbell and Frei scored in regulation for the Cougars, before Tyler King notched the overtime winner late in a 3-on-3 extra frame. Frei's goal came with just over a minute left in regulation, pulling the Cougars even and forcing overtime.
"I challenged our guys in between the second and third periods and we showed that we had another gear. They didn't quit," Johnson said.
Michael Herringer went the distance in net for the Cougars, who will play an exhibition game in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday to finish their non-conference schedule.
"Getting all these new faces on the ice together has kind of been like hitting a refresh button for us," Frei added. "We're excited to come the rink and we're making our way to build something new. Tonight was a big step in the right direction."
