Canada West Semi Final: Manitoba bounces Huskies from post-season

by Nicole Betker, USask Sports Information

Archive photo courtesy Chris Zuk / U of Manitoba Athletics

SASKATOON - For the first time in 16 years, the University of Alberta Golden Bears will have a new opponent in the Canada West final.

A 5-1 Game 3 victory gave the University of Manitoba Bisons the 2-1 win in a best-of-three semifinal series. The win earned Manitoba a trip to the Canada West Final against the Golden Bears, who knocked out the University of Calgary Dinos in two-straight games in the other conference semifinal, and to the University Cup in Thunderbay, Ont. March 25-28.

The Bisons' Blair Macaulay gave his team the boost with a hat trick in the game. Mike Hellyer also made his presence known with two goals.

Manitoba was able to get on the board first when Macaulay snapped a back handed shot in the net when Huskie goalie netminder David Reekie's momentum was going the other direction.

In the second period, the Bisons scored four answered goals after the Huskies were able to notch the game at one. Huskie rookie Brennan Bosch's pass across the crease deflected into the net behind Manitoba goalie Steve Christie. From there, the Bisons went on a scoring roll. Macaulay scored at 8:07 and 15:06. Hellyer added his two for the Bisons in the period - the first at 7:41 and the second at 14:26.

Despite a valiant effort by the Huskies throughout the third period, they couldn't find the net again.

Christie made 24 saves in the win, while Reekie made 15 stops for the Huskies.

The Canada West final begins Friday in Alberta's Clare Drake Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Game 2 in the best-of-three series is set for the same time Saturday and Game 3, if necessary, will be played Sunday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m.