The Mount Royal University Cougars have secured a decisive Game 3 in their best-of-three championship series against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies after a 2-1 overtime victory Saturday night in front of a record-breaking crowd of 3,013 at Merlis Belsher Place.
“I believe we earned this win,” said Mount Royal head coach Bert Gilling. “We successfully killed all those penalties, including the five-minute major heading into overtime. A lot was stacked against us, but the team stuck together, pushing through every obstacle. We weren’t backing down—we played aggressively. This was a hard-fought victory, and I’m incredibly proud of this group.
“We’re not surprised, though others might be. We have a really strong hockey team, and I think we’re proving it. We’ve bounced back all season. This year, we recorded 22 wins, and for the fourth straight season, we had the league’s top scorer. We’ve also had national award-winning players in U Sports.”
“It’s great that people are starting to recognize our program. Tonight’s performance—our heart, commitment, and effort—should leave a lasting impression.”
Canada West Men’s Hockey Final: Huskies Fall in OT, Mount Royal Forces Game 3
Mount Royal’s Clay Hanus sealed the win at 8:52 of overtime.
“I have complete confidence in our team,” Hanus said. “We’ll be ready for whatever comes next. We’re going to carry this momentum into Sunday.”
Teague Patton tied the game with 4:44 left in regulation, forcing overtime.
Saskatchewan’s Trevor Wong scored the lone goal for the Huskies, who struggled on special teams, going 0-for-3 on the power play while being outshot 32-24, including a lopsided 9-1 in overtime.
The Huskies faced additional challenges after losing center Liam Keeler to a head injury late in the third period, leaving them with just three centers available.
They’ll need to recover quickly, with Game 3 set for Sunday at 6 p.m.
Huskies Prepare for Decisive Game 3
“It’s essentially a Game 7,” said Huskies head coach Brandin Cote. “We had one last weekend and have been in this position before. These games are tough when you’re on the losing side.
“I thought both teams played really well. It was a tight contest, and at this point in the playoffs, both teams are dealing with injuries and fatigue. That’s just part of postseason hockey.”
“It’s frustrating—we were close. But give them credit. They found a way. Their tying goal was a fortunate shot, and they managed to kill off that five-minute major, which was a huge moment for them. We had chances to finish it, but they applied heavy pressure, and we couldn’t execute cleanly enough.”
With Keeler sidelined, the Huskies will turn to their depth for Game 3.
“That’s why we carry extra players,” said Cote, noting that the team was already missing forwards Ben Tkachuk and Chase Bertholet.
“We have guys who are more than capable of stepping up. We’ll assess our options and put the best lineup together. The key now is to reset mentally. We need to have short memories, refocus, and respond. Every time we’ve faced adversity this season, we’ve bounced back with a strong effort.”
