What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
Nov 18, 2024
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
For the first time in over six years, the University of Regina Rams have got a win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
In a thrilling match that came right down to the wire, Regina earned a 33-28 victory at Mosaic Stadium after holding the Huskies to zero points in the second half on Friday.
“It’s tough. We’ve had guys like (B.C. Lions linebacker) Ryder Varga who played here and were outstanding and never beat the Huskies so we’re playing for those guys like (Saskatchewan Roughriders safety) Jaxon Ford,” said Rams head coach Mark McConkey.
McConkey said that before the game, defensive back Jackson Sombach gave a speech to the team about how he was in his sixth year playing with the Rams and had never gotten a win over their Highway 11 rivals.
“I’m just so happy for the players and the staff and everyone involved,” McConkey said.
Rams quarterback Noat Pelletier said it felt amazing to get the win.
“We came into the game and just wanted to focus on ourselves. That was the biggest thing — we had a lot of ups and downs and stuck with it and came away with the win,” Pelletier said.
Regina’s last win was a 50-40 decision over the Huskies back on Sept. 29, 2017. Noah Picton was the Rams quarterback in that game, throwing for five touchdowns.
The Rams used a number of big plays in the first half to build up an early lead in the game.
Pelletier connected with D’Sean Mimbs, a sixth-round draft choice by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, for a 45-yard touchdown just 2:30 into the game.
Huskies quarterback Anton Amundrud answered back with a touchdown pass of his own.
But Pelletier answered back with a 43-yard touchdown to Nicholas Sirleaf in the second quarter.
Along with a single point off a kickoff, and a Pelletier one-yard rushing touchdown, the Rams had built up a 22-7 lead.
But the Huskies answered back with big plays of their own which included an Amundrud 60-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Wiebe, a blocked punt that the Huskies returned for a touchdown and a rushing score from Ryker Frank all in the second quarter.
The Huskies went into the locker room at halftime with a 28-22 lead.
But the Rams locked the Huskies down the rest of the way and held the U of S to zero points in the second half.
Renzel Arianza was the recipient of Pelletier’s third touchdown pass of the game to give the Rams the lead, which was extended with a successful two-point conversion and a safety.
The Huskies had a chance to get down and tie the game but Amundrud’s pass to Wiebe on third down with 38 seconds left fell incomplete sealing the win for the Rams.
“I didn’t think we had it until about 20 seconds left and then mathematically we could kneel it out and be good,” McConkey said.
Pelletier finished the game with 359 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Mimbs led the way with 135 yards receiving. He also finished with an 83.9 passing completion percentage — that’s a school record. It was previously held by Noah Picton.
For the Huskies, Amundrud had 235 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception but was sacked four times. Pelletier wasn’t sacked once in the game.
The Rams improve to 2-0 on the season while the Huskies fall to 0-2.