The University of Manitoba Bisons were back in action Friday night, taking on a reinvigorated University of Regina Cougars. The physicality of the last game carried through to the second game of the weekend, with both sides clashing from puck drop to the final buzzer with the Bisons ending up on top 7-1.
The Bisons would get on the board first just three minutes in thanks to Nicole Carswell. Erin Kucheravy broke into the Cougars’ zone, feeding a pass to the slot where Carswell was able to tip it over the shoulder of Cougars goalie Jane Kish.
Near the end of the first period, Venla Hovi would put the Bisons up by two with her second of the year. A shot by Alanna Sharman went wide, but was scooped up by Jayden Skoleski who tucked a pass behind her to a waiting Hovi.
In the second, the Bisons extended their lead again, this time off the stick of Erica Rieder. Lauryn Keen took the puck low into the Cougars’ corner, passed it to the slot, and then a quick one timer by Rieder beat Kish low glove side to give the Bisons a 3-0 lead.
Goals from Cassandra Taylor, Alana Serhan, Sheridan Oswald and Kucheravy would provide security, as the Bisons would cruise to a 7-1 victory.
Regina’s lone goal came courtesy of Kylie Gavelin, who was able to tuck in a power play goal off a feed from Jaycee Magwood.
Rachel Dyck continued to shine in the Manitoba net, making a number of key stops. This included two brilliant saves in tight on the penalty kill late in the first, and a glove save off a Regina breakaway in the third.
“I’m going to go game to game.” Bisons head coach Jon Rempel said of his goaltending tandem, “It depends on the situation, who we’re playing and who’d be the best fit. Rachel is on top of her game right now, we could’ve won with [Schubert], but Rachel is on a mission.”
The Bisons head back out on the road next weekend to play the UBC Thunderbirds on Oct.28-29.