CLICK for vs ALBERTA Canada FINAL Game Notes
Canada West Final
Game Information
Date March 2-4
Time 7PM/5PM/5PM
Location Edmonton, AB
Venue Clare Drake Arena
Series ('75) AB leads 175-82-9
PLAYOFFS AB Leads 34-18
Current Streak AB 2 W
Last Meeting Feb. 3, 2018
SSK 1 @ AB 3
5 Things
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This is the third Canada West final in a row the Huskies and Bears have met. Saskatchewan won in 2015-16, while Alberta won in 2016-17.
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The Huskies went 1-3 against Alberta in the regular season.
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Six of the top-ten regular season scorers are in the series - Luke Philp had 40 points for Alberta, while Josh Roach was 2nd with 37 for the Huskies.
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Two-time U SPORTS Goalie of the Year Jordan Cooke suffered a season ending injury in the semifinal series. Backup Taran Kozun had a .913 SV %. The former WHL Goaltender of the Year was 4-1 in the regular season.
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The teams are a combined 33-0 when leading after the second period. When trailing after the second, the Huskies are 1-6, while Alberta is 0-4.
By The Numbers
4 - Playoff points for Alex Forsberg and Parker Thomas – leading the Huskies.
6 - Goal differential in the season series, in favour of Alberta.
19 - The Huskies and Golden Bears have met 19 times in the Canada West Final since 1966-67.
.924 - Save % recorded by Taran Kozun in the regular season – second highest among all goalies (5GP).
Scouting The Golden Bears
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Coming off of a semifinal sweep vs. Mount Royal, three Golden Bears enter this series averaging at least 1.5 points per game – the highest among all skaters in this series.
Jamie Crooks led the conference in goals in the regular season. He totalled 16 – five of which came as game winners, also a conference-high.
Golden Bear goalie Brendan Burke has only lost three games in 17 games played this season including playoffs. Burke boasts the best GAA in the conference; regular season (2.03) & playoffs (1.96).
The Golden Bears have only been outshot twice this season – both losses. In comparison, Saskatchewan is 2-5 when outshot by opponents.
The Golden Bears are 10-0 at home this season, thanks in part to an impressive 26.0% power play percentage on their own rink. However, vs. Saskatchewan on the year they could only score on two of 26 power play opportunities (7.7%).