With Playoff Implications, This Game Had the Emotions of a Playoff Final
The Mount Royal University Cougars (MRU) held their first of two senior-night festivities on Friday, February 13, as they took on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at Flames Community Arenas.
Five players were honoured for their four-year commitment and hard work during their time as MRU Cougars. Defenceman Clay Hanus, Michael Ladyman, and Remy Aquilon were acknowledged for their grit and determination on and off the blue line. Forward Blake Stevenson and Goalie Shane Farks were hailed as part of the top veteran group in their leadership and passion within MRU.
The Game Carried Extra Meaning for Both Teams
The Cougars (18 wins – 8 losses) and the Huskies (19 wins – 7 losses) enter the evening separated by two points in the standings. If the Huskies won, or secured the extra point from an overtime/shootout loss, U of S would capture the USports Canada West (CW) East Division Title and a bye to the playoff semifinal. A Cougar victory would keep their hopes alive for the Division title and turn tonight’s regular-season finale into the deciding game for the CW East Division Title.
Once the celebrations were over, it was the Huskies who got the party started early in the 1st.
Connor Roulette of the Huskies celebrates his goal from one knee in front of MRU fans, as Chantz Petruic joins in during a game in Calgary on February 13, 2026.
Not even two minutes in, and an errant stick from second-year Cougar forward Vaughn Watterodt sent the Huskies to the power play. U of S would only need 12 seconds to capitalize. Huskies forward Connor Roulette takes a pass at the top of the left faceoff circle, takes two steps before he unloads a seeing eye-wrister through traffic, beating Farkas upstairs for the early lead on the first Huskies shot of the game—1-0 U of S.
The Cougars would batten down the hatches in the defensive zone, not giving up another shot until 7 minutes left in the first. During that time, MRU’s offense would generate eight shots of their own; their ninth would finally solve U of S’s rookie netminder Nolan Maier.
On a crafty offensive zone entry, MRU’s fourth-year forward Connor Bouchard delayed back at the top of the zone, collecting a cross-ice pass. Bouchard slipped his way around the Huskies, sending a puck towards Maier, who steered a rebound to a driving Watterodt, who pounced on the rebound in tight.
Cougars forwards Spence Moe and Vaughn Watterodt look on as a Watterodt’s shot hits the back of the net during a game against the Huskies in Calgary. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The first period would come to a close tied up after both teams struck once. The Cougars dominated the shots 14-3 heading into the break.
As the second period got underway, the Huskies and Cougars traded rushes, but it was the Huskies’ unrelenting forecheck that generated a fruitful turnover. MRU’s Captain Kyle Walker was pressured off the puck behind the net, and the puck found its way to Huskies forward Carter Stebbings in the slot. Stebbings said thank you very much and sent a quick wrister over Farkas’s right shoulder, restoring the Huskies’ one-goal lead—2-1 U of S.
The special teams (power play and penalty kill) of both teams were on full display in the second period. After failing to capitalize on earlier power plays, the Cougars were unable to convert on a Huskies too-many-men penalty. MRU then took back-to-back penalties near the end of the second, forcing Tristan Zandee, Aquilon, and Walker to stand tall on a 5-on-3 penalty kill.
Farkas and the Cougars found their groove and rode the momentum into the second intermission, still down by 1, but shots were now 18-11 in favour of MRU.
The Cougars had one period left to save their chance at the CW Division title game as teams traded chances early in the third. The Cougars would find another gear and play like a group not to be denied.
Eight minutes into the third, the Cougars drew a holding penalty, but the Huskies’ penalty kill once again made it difficult to generate sustained pressure. Unable to capitalize on the power play, over the boards came the Cougars 4th line looking to spark some momentum.
The best chance in the third for MRU came after Blackie, Alberta native Alex Izyk bounced a few Huskies off the puck, made a slick move near the offensive blueline, creating a clear lane on goal. But Maier once again was there to save the shot and swallowed the rebound.
Cougars’ assistant captain Spencer Moe checks the clock before a faceoff during a game in Calgary against the Huskies on February 13, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Now with eight minutes left and the clock ticking on Spencer Moe and the Cougars, who lined up for an important offensive zone faceoff (pictured above). After a crucial win back to Hanus, who let a shot go, and Moe slid his way through to deflect the shot and bang home the equalizer off a rebound—2-2.
Understanding the standings implications, the Cougars were not playing for overtime. The belief in the Cougars rose, thanks to the inspired play of second-year forward Justin Lies, having his fingerprints all over the game with a physical presence and quick pace, but so far left off the scoresheet.
Lies wheeled around the Huskies net. Fifth-year senior Josh Tarzwell watched the play develop and headed for the net to screen Maier. Lies came around the top of the circle and threw a wrister through Tarzwell’s screen.
The puck managed to squeak under Maier’s pad and into the net. In the last two-minutes of regulation, the Cougars had their first lead of the night 3-2.
After a Justin Lies goal, Cougars defenceman Remy Aquilon goes airborne into the goal celebration during a game against the Huskies in Calgary on Friday February 13, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
All of a sudden, the atmosphere changed, and the FCA started to feel tense as if it’s become the CW East Division Final. Maier is pulled for the extra attacker after a timeout in the Cougars’ end with 1:52 remaining.
From behind the Huskies’ empty net, players line up for a faceoff in the Cougars’ end during a game in Calgary on February 13, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
After the Huskies manage to get their own key faceoff win, Farkas makes an improbable diving desperation save, and utter bedlam ensues.
In classic hockey fashion, bodies were flying, an extended scramble in front, whistles were blown and the puck somehow stayed out.
After a reset to put the net back on, the Cougars won the faceoff and attempted a long-range empty netter to no avail. Getting another faceoff win, MRU sprung a successful soft chip into the neutral zone to kill off precious time.
A great forecheck funnels the Huskies up the boards at centre ice, where the Cougars forced a turnover and shot once more at the empty net. This time the puck hit the inside of the post and stayed out of the yawning cage.
Now, 30 seconds left, the Huskies tried one last dash to find their equalizer and force overtime. After being kept at bay by the Cougars, who parked the bus at the blueline, the clock ran out on the Huskies, and the Cougars are not taxidermy yet.
After beating the Huskies on February 13, 2026, the Cougars line up and share fist bumps on their way to congratulate Shane Farkas. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
With the Cougars now deadlocked with the Huskies (19 wins, 8 losses for 41 points), the Cougars accomplished the first task in their underdog quest for the Division Title. Farkas made 18 saves in the 3-2 win, cementing himself as one of the best goalies in school history to wear the blue and white.
The Cougars and Huskies will face off again tonight at 5pm at the Flames Community Arenas for night two of the senior-weekend festivities. The Cougars will commemorate their fifth-year players to give them a proper thank you and final send off before playoff hockey ramps up.
As previously stated, the winner of tonight’s game between MRU vs. U of S will get a bye through directly into the playoff semifinals, while the loser will host the University of Alberta Golden Bears in a quarterfinal next weekend. All games will be streamed on CanadaWest.TV for you to follow the Cougars on their journey to punch a ticket to the 2026 USports University Cup Championships in Halifax late in March.
The Cougars salute the home crowd in Calgary after defeating the Huskies 3-2 on February 13, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
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