Stadnyk buries Dinos in double-OT, Huskies advance to finals

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team is booking its travel arrangements for the national championship after knocking off the Calgary Dinos 5-4 in double overtime on Saturday – sweeping the semi-final series.

Saskatchewan will mark their fifth straight appearance in the University Cup, as well as their fifth-straight trip to the Canada West championship finals.

Carson Stadnyk potted the winning goal on the first shot of the second extra period at 1:17, sending the Dinos home with the series winning goal for the second time in his Huskies career.

Carson Stadnyk! Nearly two years after scoring the go-ahead goal against the Dinos in the 2018 postseason, he is the hero once again.

Huskies punch their ticket to the Canada West Final and 2020 University Cup in Halifax. @HuskieAthletics 5, Calgary 4#HuskiePride pic.twitter.com/Y8imJGPAhr

— U of S Men's Hockey (@HuskiesMHKY) February 23, 2020

Stadnyk, a hometown Saskatoon product, jumped on a wayward pass along the boards and worked his way across the slot, throwing the puck past a diving Logan Fisher and over the pad of Matt Greenfield to seal the win.

“We just got the one extra bounce,” Stadnyk said. “We just couldn’t be more happy right now.”

The fourth-year forward also netted the eventual game winner in 2018, the final playoff series played at Rutherford Rink at the U of S.

Stadnyk’s goal salvaged the sweep for the Huskies after the team jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second period, before giving up that advantage on three unanswered markers from Calgary.

“That was pretty tough on us, and we just said we just got to do what we do best,” Stadnyk said.

“We just came out lucky.”

First-year Jeff Faith opened the scoring less than four minutes into the first period when James Shearer mishandled the puck in behind the Calgary net. Faith was standing on the doorstep and threw it past an unsuspecting goalie.

The Dinos tied it up before the end of the first while on a five-on-three man advantage, when Saskatoon-born Kaden Elder deflected a puck underneath a sprawling Taran Kozun.

Offensive play kicked into high gear in the second frame as the Huskies scored three times in the first nine minutes of the period with goals from Donovan Neuls, Collin Shirley and Jared Dmitrw. But just as it looked as though Saskatchewan was in control, the Dinos clawed back five minutes later with two goals in 2:16 of game time.

Defenceman Ryan Gagnon knotted things up with nine minutes remaining in the third, streaking in from the point and getting several whacks at the puck before sliding it around Kozun’s skate.

Both goaltenders tightened up after the tying goal, holding both teams off the scoresheet for 30 more minutes before Stadnyk’s winner.

Huskies head coach Dave Adolph had high praise for the Dinos after victory.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody that’s as physical and greasy as they are,” he said.

“That’s a team that’s pretty worthy of probably playing in a national championship.”

Throughout the series Saskatchewan shut down the all-star first line of the Dinos, keeping league-leading points man Matt Alfaro off the scoresheet entirely over two games.

The Huskies won’t know who their next opponent is until Sunday evening, after the Alberta Golden Bears evened their series with the UBC Thunderbirds with a commanding 6-1 victory.

Saskatchewan bench boss Dave Adolph said he’s not worried about the possibility of facing the Golden Bears in the finals, a matchup that’s become a staple with the two teams combining to win the last 23 Canada West titles.

When asked if he had a preference in facing Alberta on the road or UBC at home, Adolph replied with a simple “nope.”

He said the more important accomplishment was reaching the national University Cup with Saturday’s victory.

“Your whole year is spent trying to get that opportunity to go to nationals,” he said.

“Next week’s just gravy.”