Brooklyn Stevely finds the back of the net in Huskies win

While it may not be a trip to the U Sports final, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team has extended its season with a 3-1 win.

The Huskies took on St. Francis Xavier University early Saturday morning at the Canadian university championship tournament.

Despite the early-morning start, the squads didn’t look to be bothered by it. As the skates hit the ice it was immediate end-to-end action by both teams.

After a scoreless first period, the Huskies snapped an 11-period scoreless drought as forward Kelsey Hall buried one behind the St. FX goalie.

Huskies head coach Steve Kook said it was a relief to finally get the monkey off the team’s back.

“I think we were due,” joked Kook, whose team had last scored in the second period of Game 1 of a Canada West playoff series against the Calgary Dinos on Feb. 16. “I’m just glad to see some of those finally go in.”

The drought included the third period of that game against the Dinos, 2-0 losses to Calgary on both Feb. 17 and Feb. 18, and Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Concordia Stingers.

On Saturday, the Huskies added another quick goal by Sophie Lalor, and to cap off a six-minute onslaught, Brooklyn Stevely scored a goal that was bigger than hockey.

“I saw it go in and I looked at Christne (Bumstead, an assistant coach) and I said, ‘Please tell me no one touched that,’ ” said Kook. “(Stevely) got the goal, (we were) a little teary-eyed there (and) a little emotional, and when she got the stick (as player of the game), there was a little more emotions.”

This was Stevely’s first goal since returning to the ice on Thursday after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer last November.

Stevely’s teammates were all a little teary-eyed after the puck hit the back of the net and the goal horn went off and they couldn’t be happier for her.

“That was way more than just hockey,” said Lalor. “She went through something that we hope no person has to go through and she was just the strongest, most resilient person that we’ve ever known.”

“It was awesome. There are honestly no words to describe the feeling,” said goalie Camryn Drever. “I shed a couple tears standing in the net there. I had to kind of recoup and grab myself and bring myself back into this game.”

As for Stevely, her memory of the goal might be a little different.

“Honestly I think I blacked out a little bit,” she said. “I didn’t even know it went in and then all the girls said it went in.”

Stevely said there were some tears instantly and that Hall — her roommate — was overcome with emotions.

Stevely was also honoured by the player-of-the-game award as well. As she was skating back to her teammates, they swarmed her with hugs.

“There was a hug when the goal happened, a hug after the goal happened, and a hug on the ice for the player of the game,” said Stevely. “(I) felt the love today for sure.”

Now the Huskies will move their attention towards Sunday morning’s consolation final.

They may not be playing for a medal, but everyone is thankful to be playing one more game.

“For us as seniors, to get one more game wearing that green jersey, it means a lot to us,” said Lalor.

“It’s kind of been in the back of our minds that this is our last chance to compete as a Huskie,” said Drever. “So we’re just really excited to get that last game (Sunday).”

The Huskies won’t name who they want to face but the players do have an ideal opponent in mind.

“We got a couple teams that we’re really hoping we face (Sunday) — I guess just one in particular,” said Drever. “We’re hoping that it is that team.”

Now you don’t have to go too far to figure out who the Huskies are hoping to see: The reigning Canada West-champion UBC Thunderbirds are also in the consolation bracket.

The consolation final is Sunday at 10 a.m.