This weekend, the ninth-ranked Bison men’s hockey team was swept on the road in Saskatoon against the fourth-ranked University of Saskatchewan.
A week removed from a sweep of the University of Alberta Golden Bears, the Bisons were looking to keep things rolling. Those aspirations were put to a halt with the Huskies handing the Bisons their first two losses of 2018.
After levelling the score at two in the second period on Friday, the Huskies exploded with four unanswered goals to win 6-2. Remi Laurencelle remained hot, scoring in his second straight game for the Bisons. Defenceman Adam Henry inked his name on the scoresheet by scoring a goal and an assist. Byron Spriggs finished with 34 saves on the night.
Saturday was a closer game, with the Huskies potting a late empty-netter to take a 4-1 win. Blake Heinrich was the lone goal scorer for the Bisons. His third period marker drew the Bisons within one, but a powerplay goal from Jesse Forsberg late in the third effectively sealed it. Spriggs was again busy in goal again, making 39 saves in the loss. Spriggs has faced 603 shots on goal this year – the most in the Canada West – and he has also played over 1,000 minutes, a Canada West best.
Manitoba remains in third in the Canada West, three points up on the University of British Columbia and Mount Royal University. The Bisons remain on the road for a date against the Mount Royal University Cougars on Jan. 19-20.
