With the Division Title on the Line, the Cougars and Huskies Face Off in Calgary
The Mount Royal University (MRU) Cougars and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) Huskies were back at it Saturday night following the Cougars thrilling 3-2 comeback win Friday night.
The Comeback Cats made Saturday a season-defining game with the win Friday, as now the USports Canada West (CW) East Division Title and a precious bye directly into the playoff semifinal were on the line.
There is some history between the two teams. Last season the Cougars lost the CW Championship last year in Saskatoon, on the Huskies home turf at Merlis Belsher Place. The Cougars had some demons to exorcise in this heated rivalry, going into this weekend the Cougars had dropped five of their last eight against U of S.
Both teams entered with matching 18 wins – 8 losses records, but before the puck dropped there were some seniors to honour.
Following Friday’s senior night celebrations, the aging out fifth-year players were celebrated Saturday by the Cougars.
MRU forwards Josh Tarzwell, and Spencer Moe, Defenceman Kyle Walker and Goalie Riley Sims were celebrated for their contributions with the team both on and off the ice.
After the conclusion of the ceremonies, there was a Division Title that needed to be settled.
The game got underway, and you could instantly tell this game meant something. Both teams were hard on pucks and finished checks not to just separate a man from the puck, but punish him for touching it.
U of S keeper Nolan Maier was forced to stop some quality chances to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard early.
It was clear that MRU had residual energy from Friday left in the tank. Seven minutes into the game Connor Bouchard’s cross ice pass found Justin Lies who quickly fired a shot blocker side on Maier from the slot — 1-0 Cougars.
Cougars forward Justin Lies receiving a pass and firing home a wrist shot against U of S on February 14, 2026 in Calgary. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Cougars did not relent, after sustained pressure for 1:10 seconds, third-year defenceman Tanner Komzak played a point shot off the endwall. Teague Patton with cat-like reflexes picked up the shot-pass and tucked the puck home — 2-0 Cougars.
MRU forward Teague Patton slides home a bank pass from Tanner Komzak in a game in Calgary on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Patton wanted more, on his next shift he cleverly stole the puck off a Husky before turning and lazering a wrist shot over Maier’s right arm glove — 3-0 Cougars.
Maier’s night would be over, he gave up three goals on 13 shots, in came fifth-year netminder Jordan Koozy to stop the bleeding.
The game settled down, and the period would end 3-0 Cougars, with the Cougars having outshot U of S 19-9.
Off the opening draw of the second, Bouchard was sprung in for a quick break but Koozy was able to make the tough save and keep the Huskies in the game.
Vaughn Watterodt had other ideas however, he picked up a Bouchard rebound jamming one for the Cougars — 4-0 Cougars.
Hockey is a game of momentum and Saturday was no exception. Off a Cougars turn over with eight minutes left in the second, Huskies forward Ethan Reigner found Chase Bertholet cross crease who beat Shane Farkas‘ sprawled out pad — 4-1 Cougars.
Huskies goalie makes a huge save on Cougars forward Alex Izyk keeping the Huskies alive on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Suddenly, it was the Huskies who carried the play. Utilizing their skillful power play, the Huskies would not score but forced Farkas to make some huge stops and momentum had swung. The Cougars snuck out of the period with their three-goal lead intact.
With the shots 29-20 after two periods, it was the Huskies turn to feel the pressure they now had one period to save their Division Title dreams.
The start of third saw the Cougars springing for Bouchard up the middle again, but the Huskies read the play. An early slashing penalty for Watterodt was successfully killed off. But a second penalty, this time an Alex Izyk interference penalty, sent the Huskies back to the power play.
U of S power play was more of the same quick and intentional passes to move the Cougars defensive coverage out of position, until Landon Kosior took a shot that Dawson Holt redirected over Farkas cutting the lead in half — 4-2 Cougars.
The Huskies tally sparked the Cougars as Bouchard moved his feet and was hauled down sending MRU to their second power play of the night.
MRU Captain Kyle Walker celebrates his 5-2 in the third period versus the Huskies on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Cougars would display their power play prowess, moving the puck quickly as Patton found Captain Kyle Walker through the seam and he smashed home a one-time goal, finally solving Koozy — 5-2 Cougars.
The Huskies would not go gently into the goodnight, they raged back with pressure at even strength.
U of S net minder Jordan Koozy looks on as his Huskies celebrate Chantz Petruic’s 5-3 in Calgary on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Cade Hayes redirected another Kosior point shot and the Huskies were right back in the game —- 5-3 Cougars.
The Cougars would fend off the Huskies’ pressure but a defensively cleared puck went too far for an icing. Leaving tired Cougars stuck out for a defensive zone face off with 3 and half minutes left to play.
The Huskies would use this opportunity to use their timeout to pull Koozy and draw up an attack with the extra-man.
A seemingly aggressive move by the Huskies paid off, Chantz Petruic would receive a cross ice pass from Kosior stretching the Cougars wide.
In desperation Bouchard slides to block the shot, but Petruic JUMPS over the sliding Cougar, steps into a wrist shot beating Farkas — 5-4 Cougars.
Off the ensuing face off, 2:08 left to play, a miscommunication wound up in another icing for the Cougars.
U of S’ net is once again empty, this time they push on for the equalizer.
The Cougars bent, but would not break as Captain Walker had started to drive up the wall in MRU’s end. A Huskies forechecker would take his feet out with just under two minutes left to play.
The penalty would leave the Huskies shorthanded for the remainder of the game.
Even on the penalty kill the Huskies had to cheat offensively to win the Division Title and got the puck into the Cougars end.
MRU would make a great defensive read on their power play and chip the puck out to a streaking Watterodt.
Watterodt finally puts the bow on Saturday’s spirited affair, securing the CW East Division Title for his Cougars.
The MRU Cougars bench celebrates Vaughn Watterodt’s empty net goal putting the game out of reach in Calgary on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
The Cougars spilled onto the ice to congratulate their netminder, Farkas and his 23 saves in the 6-4 win.
MRU Cougars forward Spencer Moe gives a fist bump to goalie Shane Farkas after his performance against U of S in Calgary on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
Koozy picks up the honourable loss, making an astounding 22 saves staving off the Cougars in relief.
The Cougars ability to capitalize on their chances was the difference, as the three goals in three and half minutes in the first changed the game.
More to that point, Maier’s pulling was not a result of poor play, as two of the three goals went post or crossbar and in. While, the other goal was Patton’s clever tuck off a sneaky Komzak pass.
The Cougars success Saturday earned them more than just a Division Title but the bye through next weekend’s playoff quarterfinal. Be sure to check CanadaWest.tv to follow the Cougars or any of your other favourite schools on their playoff journeys.
The MRU Cougars raise their sticks to the home crowd in Calgary after defeating the Huskies 6-4 on February 14, 2026. (Adam Vyse/CMRU.ca)
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