Huskie Happenings (Jan. 24-25, 2025)

SASKATOON, Sask. – It’s another action-packed weekend for the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Huskies with eight varsity teams featured in the latest edition of Huskie Happenings, covering the period of January 24-25, 2025.
 

JUMP TO: Basketball | Men’s Hockey | Women’s Hockey | Track & Field | Volleyball | Wrestling
 

Huskie Basketball
Saskatchewan Huskies vs Lethbridge Pronghorns
Friday, January 24, 2025 | 6:00 PM (W) & 8:00 PM (M)
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 5:00 PM (W) & 7:00 PM (M)
Physical Activity Complex | Saskatoon, Sask.

HuskieTickets.com | LiveStats (W) | LiveStats (M) | CanadaWest.tv | CW Standings (W) | CW Standings (M)

Women’s Basketball Returns Home, Resume Push for No. 1 Seed 
The Saskatchewan Huskie women’s basketball team is tied for the top spot in the Prairie Division for the first time this season after a weekend sweep of the Winnipeg Wesmen on Jan. 17 & 18. 

Tied with Regina and Alberta with a 10-2 record, the Huskies will look to continue their ascension up the Canada West standings this weekend as they host the 6-6 Lethbridge Pronghorns for the first since the 2022-23 season. The Huskies have dominated opponents as of late, earning ten consecutive wins by an average margin of 42.1 points all while continuing to produce as the nation’s best offence and defence. The Dogs are averaging 81.7 points per game while holding opponents to just 47.6 at the defensive end, making them one of just four teams in the country to own top 10 units at both ends. Their high production of offence can be credited to efficient shooting and unselfish play, with the team also leading U SPORTS in field goal percentage (42.8%) and assists per game (21.0). The Huskies also have bragging rights when it comes to forcing turnovers, averaging 28.6 opponent turnovers and 17.3 steals per game, both first in the nation.

On the men’s side the Huskies remain in search of their first win in 2024-25 and will take on the 9-3 Pronghorns looking for a home-court upset. Lethbridge visits Saskatoon coming off of four straight wins after their return from the winter break, having defeated the MacEwan Griffins and Alberta Golden Bears on back-to-back weekends. In previous seasons, the Pronghorns have been a welcome opponent for the Dogs who own a 23-9 record in 32 total meetings, a 6-4 record in their last ten, and swept Lethbridge in their most recent meeting two years ago. 

Players to Watch:
Ella Murphy Wiebe – A fourth-year forward for the Huskies, Murphy Wiebe made her return to the lineup last weekend after missing the previous nine games. In just her second game of the season she led the Huskies with 17 points coming off the bench before making her way into the starting lineup for the Dogs’ second game of the weekend. As a starter she recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while adding four steals and two blocks at the defensive end. 
Emmanuel Bonsu – Veteran guard Emmanuel Bonsu has been one of the most consistent players for the Huskies this season and since returning from the Christmas break has been the Dogs leading scorer in each contest. The product of Quebec has been averaging 18 points per game over the last four games, which includes a season-high 26-point performance. 

Head-to-Head
All-Time vs Lethbridge (Women): 70-73 Pronghorns
All-Time vs Lethbridge (Men): 23-9 Huskies
Last 10 Meetings (Women): 10-0 Huskies
Last 10 Meetings (Men): 6-4 Huskies
Last Two Meetings (Women): 2-0 Huskies (W 91-74, W 90-84 – Jan. 2023)
Last Two Meetings (Men): 2-0 (W 87-77, W 86-82 – Jan. 2023)

Team Stats (Conference Rank)
 

Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
 

Last 5 Games
 

Huskie Men’s Hockey
#7 Saskatchewan Huskies vs #4 Alberta Golden Bears
Friday, January 24, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Merlis Belsher Place | Saskatoon, Sask.

HuskieTickets.com | LiveStats | CanadaWest.tv | HuskieFAN.ca | CW Standings

Crucial Weekend for Men’s Hockey as Golden Bears Visit Saskatoon
For the first time this season the U SPORTS No. 4-ranked Alberta Golden Bears will visit Merlis Belsher Place in what will be a matchup of two of the top programs in the nation. Adding to the stakes of this weekend’s Top-10 rivalry matchup is the four-points that separate the Huskies and Golden Bears. Despite trailing Alberta, the Dogs have two games in hand and will need a pair of regulation wins this weekend to stay in the race for the No. 1-seed in the East.

In the latest chapter of this storied rivalry, Alberta leads the 2024-25 season series three-games-to-one after hosting the Dogs four times prior to the December break. The Huskies, however, took their most recent matchup 5-3 after converting twice on the powerplay and scoring three times in the third.

In what is truly a U SPORTS heavy weight matchup, the Huskies rank first in Canada West in goals allowed and second in goals for while the Golden Bears are the highest scoring team and have allowed the second-fewest goals against.

As has been the case in previous matchups so far this season, special teams is sure to factor heavily into the outcome of this weekend’s doubleheader, and that is where the Dogs hold a significant advantage. Saskatchewan owns the nations best power play unit, converting on 36.5% of attempts, while also holding opponents to an 88.0% success rate on the penalty kill, the best in Canada West. Meanwhile, Alberta ranks fourth in the conference in both categories with a 24.1% powerplay and 81.2% penalty kill.

Players to Watch:
This weekend’s doubleheader features some of the most talented and high-scoring student-athletes in Canada West, with the two teams combining for seven of the top fifteen conference scorers. The Huskies are led by two forwards from their top line in Dawson Holt and Chantz Petruic, the team’s leaders in points and goals, while defencemen Landon Kosior follows closely behind as the fourth highest scoring blueliner in the conference. For Alberta, d-man Aidan de la Gorgendiere leads the conference in scoring with 33 points while teammate Sean Tschigerl leads in goals. Brett Hyland makes up the trio of top Golden Bear scorers.

Also, featured at Merlis Belsher Place this weekend is a matchup of the top goaltenders in Canada West, with the tandem of Jordan Kooy and Roddy Ross facing off with Tyler Palmer of the Bears. The trio of netminders make up the top three statistical leaders in both goals against average and save percentage, with Kooy standing at the top of both categories with a 1.89 GAA and .925 SV%.

Head-to-Head
All-Time vs Alberta: 176-381-18 Bears
Last 10 Meetings: 4-6 Bears
2024-25 Record: 1-3 (W 5-3, L 2-4, L 2-5, L 2-5)

Team Stats (Conference Rank)
 

Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
 

Last 5 Games
 

Huskie Women’s Hockey
Saskatchewan Huskies at #3 Alberta Pandas
Friday, January 24, 2025 | 8:00 PM 
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 3:00 PM
Clare Drake Arena | Edmonton, Alta. 

LiveStats | CanadaWest.tv | HuskieFAN.ca | CW Standings

Women’s Hockey Set to Take on No. 3 Ranked Alberta on the Road
Coming off a strong weekend which saw the Dogs take three points against the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, the USask women’s hockey team heads back on the road with a U SPORTS Top 10 team ahead of them. 

The Huskies are set to face off with the No. 3-ranked Alberta Pandas, ranked third in the nation, for the first time on the road and fifth time this season. Despite the Pandas holding a 4-0 advantage this season the Dogs have played Alberta extremely close, with three of their four losses coming by just one goal. 

The Huskies will look to continue gaining on the current No. 3-seed in the East, the Regina Cougars, in the hopes of making their way back into the Canada West postseason. The Cougars currently own a 9-point advantage in the standings with eight games remaining for both teams. 

Players to Watch:
Goalies – This weekend features a showdown between a pair of goalies who have been playing extremely well as of late. For the Huskies, Colby Wilson is coming off of a strong weekend in which she posted her third shutout in five games before a 50-save night to help the Dogs take three points in Manitoba. At the other end is Grace Glover who owns the best goals against average in U SPORTS (0.81) and third-best save percentage at .952. 

Head-to-Head
All-Time vs Regina: 41-108
Last 10 Meetings: 2-8 Pandas
2024-25 Record: 0-4 (L, 1-2, L 0-3, L 3-4 (SO), L 1-2)

Team Stats (Conference Rank)
 

Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
 

 
Last 5 Games
 

Huskie Track & Field
Knights pf Columbis Games
Friday, January 24 – Sunday, January 25, 2025
Saskatoon Field House | Saskatoon, Sask.

Meet Schedule | U SPORTS Rankings

T&F Set to Compete with Athletes from Around the World in Knights of Columbus Games
Following another successful Canada West meet, this time in Edmonton at the Golden Bear Open, the Huskies return to their home track at the Saskatoon Field House for the Knights of Columbus Games.

In addition to featuring some of the best U SPORTS Track & Field athletes, the Knights of Columbus Games also welcome’s some of the best athletes from around the world as the first stop of the 2025 National Track & Field Tour. 

The Huskies will be looking to build off their impressive start to the season where the team has earned 11 U SPORTS auto standards and 17 gold medals on their way to U SPORTS Top 10 rankings for both the USask women (3rd) and men (7th). 53 Saskatchewan student-athletes will take part in this weekend’s meet as the Dogs look to replicate last season’s KofC games which saw 14 athletes in green & white take the top spot on the podium. 

Athletes to Watch:
Avery Pearson – The No. 1-ranked athlete in the 600m, 1000m, and member of the top-ranked 4x800m nationally will look to continue her early season dominance this weekend. Pearson, a four-time Canada West and three-time U SPORTS Champion last season, has run in five races through two meets this season, taking gold in each one.
Jake Neufeld – This week’s Huskie men’s Athlete of the Week, Neufeld is coming off an impressive performance in the heptathlon in the Golden Bear Open. The fifth-year graduate student claimed gold with a 5,162-point performance, moving up to the No. 1-ranking in the nation for U SPORTS athletes. His outing also produced the third-best point total by a USask track & field athlete in program history. 

2024 Knights of Columbus Results
Event Wins – 14
    Daniel Dyck – 60m
    Kendyl Dziadyk – 60m Hurdles
    Alyssa Roney – 800m
    Rayne Butler Siemens – 1500m
    Rumindu Widanalage – High Jump
    Timi Adelugba – High Jump
    Joely Welburn – Long Jump
    Josh Tam – Pole Vault
    Brett Lachance – Shot Put
    Kira Comfort – Shot Put
    Arianna Wakeford – Triple Jump
    Parker Lavoie – Weight Throw
    Ella Baerwald – Weight Throw
 

Huskie Volleyball
Saskatchewan Huskies at Winnipeg Wesmen
Friday, January 24, 2025 | 6:00 PM (W) & 7:45 PM (M)
Saturday, January 25, 2025 | 5:00 PM (M) & 6:45 PM (W)
Duckworth Centre | Winnipeg, Man. 

LiveStats (W) | LiveStats (M) | CanadaWest.tv | CW Standings (W) | CW Standings (M)

Playoff Matchups for USask Volleyball in Winnipeg
After a clean sweep of the MacEwan Griffins at home, the USask men’s and women’s volleyball teams are headed to Winnipeg to take on the Wesmen in a meeting of future Canada West playoff teams. 

The Huskie women, who own a 7-7 record and sixth place in the Canada West standings, will take on a Wesmen team that sit just one spot below them with a 5-7 record. Winnipeg is well rested coming off their bye week but dropped their first two matches of the new year to a ranked TRU Wolfpack team. The Dogs meanwhile are coming off their best stretch of the season having won four straight games in which they’ve lost just two sets. 

For the USask men, who just claimed their 10th win, they will take on the Wesmen in a meeting of U SPORTS Top 10 programs. The Huskies, ranked 8th, will take on the No. 3 team in the country in Winnipeg, who owns an 11-1 record and is second in the Canada West standings. While the Wesmen men’s team is also coming off their bye week, the team just dropped their first game of the season to the 3-9 TRU Wolfpack in their return from the December break. The Dogs also have plenty reason to be optimistic about this weekend’s matchup, as the Wesmen have only taken on one of the top six teams in the conference so far this season. 

Players to Watch:
Isaiah Mamer – 
Rosetta Cyr – A third-year outside hitter, Cyr is coming off the best weekend of her season so far. The product of Punnichy, SK, totaled 37.5 points and 33 kills in two games against the MacEwan Griffins for her largest two-game point total in 12 games this year. It was also an efficient pair of games, in which she converted on 29.4 and 34.1 percent of attacks. 

Head-to-Head
All-Time vs Calgary (Women): 16-19 Wesmen
All-Time vs Calgary (Men): 16-23 Wesmen
Last 10 Meetings (Women): 4-6 Wesmen
Last 10 Meetings (Men): 5-5
Last Two Meetings (Women): 0-2 (L 1-3, L 2-3 – Dec. 2023)
Last Two Meetings (Men): 1-1 (L 1-3, W 3-1 – Dec. 2023)

Team Stats (Conference Rank)
 

Team Leaders (Conference Rank)
 

Last 5 Games
 

Huskie Wrestling
Lethbridge Open
Friday, January 24 – Saturday, January 25, 2025
1st Choice Savings Centre | Lethbridge, Alta.

Wrestling to Close Out Regular Season in Lethbridge
Following a trip to Ontario for the Guelph Open, the Huskies will now head to Lethbridge to close out their regular season meet schedule in their final opportunity to prepare for the Canada West Championships set to take place in Saskatoon on Feb. 15.

The Lethbridge Open has been a welcome stop of the Huskies wrestling schedule recently. Just last year, the Huskies captured six gold medals and made 14 total trips to the podium on their way to second (men) and third (women) place finishes in the team standings.

Athletes to Watch:
Myah Phillips – A third-year wrestler, Phillips is coming off a strong weekend in which she captured gold at the Guelph Open and posted a perfect 3-0 record in matches. For her impressive performance she was named the U SPORTS Athlete of the Week by wrestling Canada. 

2024 Lethbridge Open Results
MEN:
1st – Drake Buechler – 61kg
1st – Wyatt Newsham – 125kg
2nd – Donovan Neudorf – 65kg
2nd – Simon Trokhymchuk – 82kg
2nd – Mohsen Kemati – 90kg
3rd – Brett Macdonald – 65kg
3rd – Judah Arthurs – 82kg

WOMEN:
1st – Myah Phillips – 83kg
1st – Abby Wolffe – 50kg
1st – SueAnne Harms – 56kg
1st – Olivia Rose – 90kg
2nd – Angela Aalbers – 62kg
3rd – Caitlin Clatney – 59kg
3rd – Myah Clatney – 68kg