Golden Bears update week 9

The Golden Bears weren’t on holiday but they definitely had a long weekend which saw them drop two games to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The sweep by the Huskies saw Saskatchewan take Alberta’s number two spot and the Bears move down to number four in the U Sports national rankings. The two losses also moved Alberta down to third place in the Canada West Conference standings. To add more salt to the wound Mount Royal’s Connor Rankin bumped the Bears’ Jayden Hart out of the top spot in the Canada West scoring parade . Merry Christmas.

If you think the Clare Drake is old understand that Huskies home games at the Rutherford Arena actually feature, “rust delays.” This is when the game is stopped to clean up rust which has fallen from the ceiling. The University of Saskatchewan is actively trying to put together funding to replace the arena with a two rink complex. Alberta added to the falling debris on Friday night in a game which saw them outshot 44-21 and outscored 4-1. Goaltender Luke Siemens can’t be asked to do more than make 40 saves especially if he is not going to receive any run support from his teammates. Dylan Bredo scored the lone goal for the Bears and Saskatchewan rookie Carson Stadnyk put two past Siemens.

Alberta provided their goaltender even less offence on Saturday night. Huskies’ goalie Jordon Cooke pitched a 45 save shutout and frustrated the Bears’ shooters. Alberta allowed the Huskies to put 38 pucks on net. Coach Serge Lajoie has to be concerned that his club gave up a combined 82 shots in two games to Saskatchewan. After 33 minutes of playing time and 3 goals allowed on 24 shots Luke Siemens was relieved by Brendan Burke. Burke managed 10 saves on 11 shots. Defenceman Jesse Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the Huskies in their 4-0 romp over the Bears.

Notes

• The Bears are now on a break from Canada West play until they meet the UBC Thunderbirds at home on January 6th.
• Jamie Crooks was named to the U Sports All-Star team. The U Sports All-Star club will face off against the Canadian National Junior prospects in a two-game exhibition series in Boisbriand, Quebec on December 12th and 13th. Other representatives from the Canada West include: goaltender Jordon Cooke (Saskatchewan), defenceman Tim Campbell (Lethbridge), defenceman Kendal McFaull (Saskatchewan), forward Jordan DePape (Manitoba), and forward Elgin Pearce (Calgary).

Up Next

The Golden Bears play two exhibition games over the holidays. On Thursday December 29th Alberta takes on the NAIT Ooks at the Rogers Community Rink attached to Rogers Place. The next night the Bears again play at the Rogers Community Rink and this time face-off against the Grant MacEwan Griffins. Both games start at 7pm.