QUICKLY
Makena Kushniruk played the hero role on Friday night for the University of Regina's women's hockey team, tallying the game-tying goal with just over a minute left in regulation and then scoring the lone goal of the shootout as the Cougars took a 3-2 win over Manitoba on Friday night at The Co-operators Centre.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Manitoba opened up the scoring early in the first period when Camille Enns had her shot from the right point stopped, but the rebound bounced right to Aimee Patrick for the third-year forward's first goal of the campaign.
• Manitoba enjoyed a 12-6 shot advantage in the opening frame and scored again early in the second on the power play. Julia Bird slipped a pass over to Dana Goertzen on a 2-on-1 and Goertzen snapped a shot high glove side to extend the Bisons' lead to 2-0.
• Paige Hubbard scored Regina's first goal shortly before the midway point of the second. Kushniruk was in on the goal as she chipped the puck off the glass and out of the U of R zone, which created a 2-on-1 with Hubbard and Shaylee Scraba. Hubbard wired a shot high blocker from the left circle for her second of the season.
• Manitoba took that 2-1 lead into the second intermission, and the Cougars pressed all third period for the equalizer as they outshot the Bisons 17-4 in the frame. The Bisons were able to kill off three minor penalties in the third but with Cougar goalie Arden Kliewer pulled for the extra attacker, Regina tied it up. Jordyn Blais had her shot from the point stopped, Trinity Grove was stopped on the rebound, and Kushniruk finally snapped it home to tie it up with just 80 seconds to go.
• After overtime solved nothing, the Cougars headed to a shootout for a third consecutive game. Kushniruk deked to her forehand in the opening round to score the only goal of the session and Kliewer stopped all three Manitoba attempts to secure the win.

NOTES

• Both teams finished with 36 shots on net. Kliewer made 34 saves to notch her second win in as many starts this season.
• Grove, who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injury, played in her first Canada West game since Feb. 11, 2023. She was credited with the assist on Kushniruk's goal.
• Kushniruk's two-point night was the third multi-point game of her Canada West career.
• The Cougars (4-0-1) continue to lead Canada West's East Division. Alberta defeated Saskatchewan on Friday night to remain one point behind Regina in second place in the division.

NEXT UP
The Cougars will host the Bisons again on Saturday night at The Co-operators Centre. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 PM.