What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
Nov 18, 2024
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The University of Regina Rams are heading back to the Canada West football playoffs.
Regina clinched a spot in the post-season with Saturday’s 19-14 victory over the Alberta Golden Bears at Leibel Field. It’s the first time since 2017 that the Rams will participate in the conference playoffs.
On Friday, the playoff-bound Saskatchewan Huskies ran their winning streak to start the season to five games with a 43-22 victory over the Manitoba Bisons in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan sits in first place with a 5-0-0 record, with the Rams in second at 4-1-0. The Golden Bears, Bisons and UBC Thunderbirds are tied for third with 2-3-0 records, while the Calgary Dinos are sixth at 0-5-0.
In Regina, Alberta took possession at its own 30-yard line with 40 seconds to go in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead. The Golden Bears drove deep into Rams territory, but time ran out with the ball on the Regina 14-yard line.
Garth Knittig had two solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and a fumble recovery for Regina’s defence. Anthony Bennett added 1.5 sacks, giving him a share of the school record for sacks in a season (along with Akiem Hicks and Nicholas Dheilly) with 6.5.
Regina quarterback Noah Pelletier was 20-for-34 passing for 227 yards, while Bennett Stusek caught six passes for 99 yards.
Olivier Savard rushed 16 times for 64 yards with a nine-yard touchdown for the Rams, who got three field goals, a convert and a single from Aldo Galvan. Regina also recorded a safety.
Orin Schellenberg (19-yard pass from Eli Hetlinger) and Dakota McKay (seven-yard pass from Jonathan Ericson) had touchdowns for Alberta, which got a single and a convert from Jonathan Giustini.
The Rams have a bye next weekend; their next game is Oct. 15 against the host Huskies.
In Saskatoon on Friday, Ted Kubongo returned the opening kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown for the Huskies, but they still needed 24 unanswered points in the second half to down the Bisons.
Kubongo’s 327 total yards comprised 148 yards on three kickoff returns, 121 yards rushing on nine carries (with a 47-yard touchdown), 37 yards receiving on three catches (with a 12-yard TD) and 21 yards on one punt return.
Saskatchewan quarterback Mason Nyhus completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 315 yards with touchdown tosses to Kubongo and Kody Gutek (four yards).
Ethan Watson added a five-yard TD run for the Huskies, who got two field goals and five converts from David Solie. Saskatchewan also recorded a safety.
The Saskatchewan defence had five sacks and surrendered only two first downs to the Bisons in the pivotal second half.
Brendt Adams (14-yard reception from Des Catellier) and Jackson Tachinski (one-yard run) had touchdowns for Manitoba, which got two field goals and two converts from Niko DiFonte. Manitoba also had a safety.
Next up for the Huskies is the Oct. 15 game against the visiting Rams.