No. 1 UNB, Regina, and No. 8 Saskatchewan all scored victories Friday night in the opening games of their respective playoff series.
UNB defeated No. 4Saint Marys 5-1 in Fredericton to take a 1-0 lead in their AUS conference best-of-three final series. Jordan Clendenning led UNB with 2 goals and an assist as the speedy V-Reds served notice they want to win their conference championship. Game 2 is set for Sunday night in Halifax as the Huskies get a chance for some home cooking to tie up the series. Game 3, if necessary, returns to Fredericton on Tuesday. Both teams have already qualified for the upcoming University Cup in Thunder Bay.
In what may have been a surprise to many; Regina scored a huge 5-2 win to open their Canada West semi-final series against the No. 2 Golden Bears in Edmonton. The Cougars were led by the stellar goaltending of Adam Ward and a hard-nosed overall game that caught the Bears, who havent played for a couple weeks due to a bye, off guard.
For Regina, the win represents their first road win over Alberta since February 3, 1996 (6-4 Cougars) and their first playoff win (home or away) over the Golden Bears since March 9, 1991. The Cougars won that game 6-5, but hope history does not repeat itself this year as Alberta rebounded to win that series in three games. Game 2 is Saturday night at the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton.
The Cougars still face a big challenge against the defending national champions as all three games of this series will be played in Edmonton at the Clare Drake Arena. However, although Regina is 2-4 against the Golden Bears this season overall; three of their four losses were by one goal only and one loss went to OT.
No. 8 Saskatchewan showed that it was not rusty after its bye layoff by taking down the UBC Thunderbirds 6-3 to open a 1-0 lead in their Canada West semifinals. Five different Huskies scored Friday night; including Can West Rookie of the Year Steven Da Silva. The Huskies can wrap up the series Saturday night at the Rutherford Arena in Saskatoon Saturday night. Game 3, if necessary, goes Sunday night in Saskatoon.
All these four Canada West teams are battling for one University Cup berth, awarded to this years conference champions, so Saturday night should be a night of intense playoff hockey in Edmonton and Saskatoon.
Friday, March 13, 2009.
Atlantic University Sport Final (Best of Three)
Game 1 - Mar. 13: Saint Mary's 1 at New Brunswick 5
Game 2 - Mar. 15: New Brunswick at Saint Mary's (7:00 pm)
Game 3 - Mar. 18: Saint Mary's at New Brunswick (7:00 pm) - If Necessary
(New Brunswick leads best-of-three series 1-0.)
Canada West Hockey Semi-Finals (Best of Three)
Game 1 - Mar. 13: Regina 5 at Alberta 2
Game 2 - Mar. 14: Regina at Alberta (7:30 pm)
Game 3 - Mar. 15:Regina at Alberta (7:00 pm) - If Necessary
(Regina leads best-of-three series 1-0.)
Game 1 - Mar. 13: UBC 3 at Saskatchewan 6
Game 2 - Mar. 14: UBC at Saskatchewan (7:00 pm)
Game 3 - Mar. 15: UBC at Saskatchewan (7:00 pm) - If Necessary
(Saskatchewan leads best-of-three series 1-0.)