U of S Huskies head coach Steve Kook believes his team may surprise some teams in the Canada West conference.
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After hosting the U Sports national championship last season, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will re-load — some would say rebuild — for the 2024-25 season.
Expectations have been tempered or lowered at least externally, but head coach Steve Kook believes his team may surprise some teams in the Canada West conference despite graduating so many key players.
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“In some ways we’re (still) a veteran crew, so it’s a different type of year,” noted Kook. “We have 12 first- and second-years, and eight fourth-years. So it’s quite the mix for us.”
Last season, Saskatchewan finished fourth during the regular season with a 19-7-2 record but bowed out in the Canada West quarterfinal to the Calgary Dinos before resuming play as the 2024 U Sports national championship host.
“If you look at the coaches’ poll, we’re not expected to do much in the conference,” admitted Kook. “It’s early. We’ve made some pretty good strides (since pre-season). There’s been lots of teaching, just with so many new bodies we have.
There are going to be days when we look good, like we’re a veteran squad, and then there are going to be days when we look like we’re brand-new to the league. One of the things I will say is that the last time we had such a big rookie crew is when we went on to the national championship in Charlottetown.
“These young kids, they just don’t know any better. They just compete. That’s the exciting part for this group.”
KEY RETURNEES
The Huskies will rely heavily on their players entering a fourth year of eligibility.
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Among them are goalie Colby Wilson, blueliners Kendra Zuchotzki, Brooklyn Stevely and McKenna Bolger and forwards Paris Oleksyn, Bronwyn Boucher, Sara Kendall and Jasper Desmarais, as well as Taylor Wilkinson.
“It really is by committee,” stressed Kook. “It’ll be our eight fourth-years and Taylor Wilkinson, who’s into her 3.5 year of eligibility.”
DOG DEPARTURES
Goalie Camryn Drever and fellow Huskies grad, blueliner Isabella Pozzi, signed one-year deals with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League.
The team also said goodbye to captain and forward Kennedy Brown, Sophie Lalor, Kara Kondrat, Kenzie Lausberg, Kate Ball, Mallory Dyer, Kalli Hiebert and Kelsey Hall.
“We lose some goals with Lalor and Kondrat, but we were defensively solid,” assessed Kook. “We’re going to have to make up those goals by committee. If Jasper gets a couple and McKenna gets a couple and Paris gets a couple — if everyone increases a little more — it makes up the difference for those. We’re going to have to do that by committee.
“I think the back end is actually going to jump in and add some points for us. Not that they’re going to be up in the play all the time — that’s what we always expect — but we have some players back there with some good hard shots.”
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NEWCOMERS TO WATCH FOR
D Julianna Herman is a NCAA Division One transfer and former Notre Dame Hound who has made her way back to Saskatchewan.
“It’s going to take a little bit for her to get used to Canada West style, that’s for sure,” said Kook, who has high hopes for Herman.
Also keep an eye on twins Jaiyana Nurani and Kaysah Nurani.
“They’re speedy little forwards,” noted Kook. “We thought they might have a little challenge with the physicality up here in Canada West but so far, in the six games that have been played in pre-season, they’ve adjusted well. They’ve had a good camp and we’re kind of excited to see what they do in regular season.”
Avery Gottselig, who plays defence, is a top recruit with some pedigree.
“She has a pretty good resume coming off an Esso Cup championship with the Regina Rebels,” noted Kook.
‘There are some kids with some pretty good resumes. We’ll see if it translates into success at this level.”
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