WHKY: Dinos end Huskies playoff go

CGY vs SSK – Game 3 

SASKATOON, SK – Gabriella Durante recorded her second consecutive shutout as the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey team edged the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 2-0 in Game 3 of their Canada West quarter-final series at Merlis Belsher Place.

Supported all weekend by a strong defensive showing in front of her, Durante was the difference-maker in the final two games. After allowing the game-winning goal in the second period of Game 1, the fourth-year goaltender was unbeatable for the final 152 minutes of the series.

With Sunday’s win, the Dinos clinch their first post-season series victory since 2015 and advance to face the UBC Thunderbirds in the second round of the Canada West Playoffs.

“This is pure joy. Everyone worked so hard for it to culminate in that win, and everyone played their part,” said Durante. “I cannot say enough good things about my defence. As a goalie, you get the accolades but if I don’t have a good defence in front of me, I am not going to do well. They block shots, they pick up sticks in front. We have a lot of rookies, but everyone is doing an amazing job.”

Despite it being a do-or-die game, neither side showed nerves during an ultra-competitive first period. The Dinos and Huskies combined for 24 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes, including several glorious scoring chances. A shot by Calgary’s Rebecca Clark hit the post in the first minute of play, while a pair of Huskies were turned away on kick saves from Durante.

Calgary drew the first blood with five minutes remaining in the first. In the waning seconds of a power play, a Dana Wood cross-ice pass was deflected in front of the crease and was left alone for Josie McLeod who slammed it past Saskatchewan netminder Camryn Drever.

The intensity remained high in the middle stanza but both teams tightened up defensively. The lone clear-cut opportunity was generated by Elizabeth Lang as she bodied the puck past a Huskie defender at her blue line and sent Courtney Kollman into the Saskatchewan zone on a breakaway. The fifth-year senior made no mistake, deking out Drever before slipping the puck between her pads.

Holding a 2-0 lead, the Dinos remained aggressive in the final period, forcing Drever to make two big stops off Lang and Jess Martens.

Saskatchewan brought out an extra attacker with just over two minutes remaining and began to pepper the Calgary net. The Dinos’ defence continued to get bodies and sticks in lanes, and when shots got through, Durante saved her best work for last.

“We had a lot of confidence after yesterday and we carried that over to today. When everyone does their job, it makes everyone’s lives easier and that’s what we did today,” said Durante.

The Huskies will now shift their attention to the 2024 GFL U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship presented by Connect Energy, which they will host from March 14-17.

“It’s still fresh, certainly disappointed at the outcome, not at the team,” said Saskatchewan bench boss Steve Kook. “We played well but could have played a little more desperate.”

Calgary will begin their best-of-three semifinal series on Feb. 23 in Vancouver.