SASKATOON - A second period short-handed goal sealed a University of Regina Cougars 3-2 victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on the opening night of Canada West women's hockey at Rutherford Rink Friday.
Tied at two, Saskatchewan went on the power play after Regina's Kaitlyn Crowe was called for interference. A chase for a puck that the Huskies couldn't hold in the Cougars' zone resulted in Bailey Braden gaining possession in front of the Saskatchewan net. Her quick shot beat Jasey Book glove side at 16:14.
Regina netminder Jane Kish was impressive in the win stopped 42 of the 44 shots she faced. Book stopped 15 in the loss for the Huskies.
Chloe Smith scored her first as a Huskie just 1:19 into the first Canada West women's hockey game of the season on a scramble in front of the Cougars net.
Regina took the lead scoring two goals in two minutes midway through the first frame. Emma Waldenberger tallied at 9:06 on the power play, followed by Shaelynn Vallotton at 11:02. Waldenberger collected the puck from a pass behind the net beating Book stick side, while Vallotton received a cross-crease pass shooting it into the net before Book could get back.
Bailee Bourassa notched the game at two just three minutes into the second frame. Bourassa snared the puck in the neutral zone and beat Kish with a quick shot from the right face-off circle at 2:57.
The Huskies and Cougars will meet again Saturday night in Regina for the second game of the home-and-home series. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.