Matt Dionne | Sports and Health Editor
Featured image: The Lions were unable to beat the Huskies’ goalie, falling 1-0 in the first round. | Courtesy of York Lions
The men’s hockey team was looking to build on their Ontario University Athletics, or OUA, success this year at the U SPORTS championship in New Brunswick this weekend.
After beating the Golden Gaels in the Queen’s Cup championship last weekend, the Lions were hoping to add another banner to the rafters of Canlan in the form of a national championship. Standing in their way: the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Huskies outshot the Lions 13-7 in the first period, but neither team was able to beat the opposing goalie.
In the second, the Lions were outshot again, 14-10, but rookie goalie Mack Shields was able to preserve the shutout through 40 minutes.
Things were pretty chippy in the first and second periods, as the two teams accounted for 38 minutes in penalties, including a 10-minute misconduct each for checking from behind for Saskatchewan’s Jordan Fransoo and York’s Connor Hale.
In the third, it was the Lions who turned up the pressure, outshooting the Huskies for the first time in the game, 7-4. However, Saskatchewan’s goalie was up to the task, keeping everything out of the net and forcing overtime.
In the extra frame, there was only one shot taken. It was by the Huskies, and it managed to beat Shields and find the back of the net, ending the Lions’ hopes for a first-place national finish.
Despite the loss, Shields was sensational, living up to the rookie of the year award he won earlier this month, stopping 31 of 32 shots.
Despite the low scoring, neither team was lacking chances, as the Lions went zero for five on the power play, while the Huskies went zero for seven.
The Lions can continue to build on their success next year, with both leading scorer Derek Sheppard and rookie of the year Shields eligible to return.
