Golden Bears blank Huskies to claim Canada West title
Sixty minutes of perfect hockey pushed the Golden Bears into the winner’s circle at the Canada West Championship, as Alberta defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies 1-0 in Sunday’s deciding game.
Luke Philp, who skated in the Western Hockey League from 2011 to 2016 with the Kootenay ICE and the Red Deer Rebels, picked up the lone tally for the Golden Bears in the final game of the best-of-three series. A native of Canmore, Alta., Philp is in his third season at the University of Alberta, where this year he led the Golden Bears with 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 24 appearances. That performance led to Philp’s recognition as Canada West’s Player of the Year.
Sunday’s game-winner was a timely point for Philp as it marked his first point of the final series, recorded with less than three minutes remaining in the third period.
Between the pipes, Zach Sawchenko, who spent four seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2013 to 2017, pitched his second straight shutout of the series after he turned aside 29 shots to help the Golden Bears capture the championship. Sawchenko, who was born in Calgary, is in his second season at the University of Alberta.
“At the end of the day, I might get credit for the shutout, but it’s a team game,” Sawchenko told the University of Alberta’s Connor Hood. “Our team was excellent this weekend, we showed a lot of grit and character.”
The victory marked the 28th win for the Golden Bears at the Canada West Championship. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan will now move on as part of the Canada West contingent at the 2019 University Cup, which begins March 15 at the University of Lethbridge.
Alberta Golden Bears roster
Goaltenders
Brendan Burke, London Knights
Kenny Cameron, Medicine Hat Tigers
Zach Sawchenko, Moose Jaw Warriors
Defencemen
Ben Carroll, Edmonton Oil Kings
Nick Charif, Spokane Chiefs
Graeme Craig, Prince Albert Raiders
Jason Fram, Spokane Chiefs
Clayton Kirichenko, Medicine Hat Tigers
Sawyer Lange, Prince Albert Raiders
Ryan Rehill, Kamloops Blazers
Wil Tomchuk, Prince George Cougars
Forwards
Tyson Baillie, Kelowna Rockets
Taylor Cooper, Regina Pats
Trevor Cox, Vancouver Giants
Jayden Hart, Prince Albert Raiders
Riley Kieser, Edmonton Oil Kings
Stephane Legault, Edmonton Oil Kings
Cole Linaker, Kelowna Rockets
Brandon Magee, Victoria Royals
Curtis Miske, Prince Albert Raiders
Lucas Nickles, Tri-City Americans
Steven Owre, Medicine Hat Tigers
Grayson Pawlenchuk, Red Deer Rebels
Luke Philp, Red Deer Rebels
Cole Sanford, Regina Pats
Tyler Soy, Victoria Royals
Saskatchewan Huskies roster
Goaltenders
Travis Child, Edmonton Oil Kings
Taran Kozun, Seattle Thunderbirds
Defencemen
Gordie Ballhorn, Kelowna Rockets
Shane Collins, London Knights
Evan Fiala, Saskatoon Blades
Jesse Forsberg, Moose Jaw Warriors
Colby Harmsworth, Calgary Hitmen
Tanner Lishchynsky, Kootenay ICE
Sam Ruopp, Prince George Cougars
Forwards
Kohl Bauml, Everett Silvertips
Levi Cable, Kootenay ICE
Carter Folk, Victoria Royals
Alex Forsberg, Victoria Royals
Connor Gay, Saskatoon Blades
Andrew Johnson, Swift Current Broncos
Wyatt Johnson, Spokane Chiefs
Logan McVeigh, Kamloops Blazers
Donovan Neuls, Seattle Thunderbirds
Collin Shirley, Kamloops Blazers
Michael Sofillas, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Carson Stadnyk, Everett Silvertips
Jordan Tkatch, Prince Albert Raiders
Jaimen Yakubowski, Moose Jaw Warriors
