“You have to steal games,” offered U of S head coach Steve Kook, whose team opens the 2024 U Sports GFL national women’s hockey championship tournament Thursday (7 p.m.) against top-ranked Concordia Stingers at Merlis Belsher Place.
Published Mar 13, 2024 • Last updated 5 hours ago • 3 minute read
While there are no warrants out for her arrest, Camryn Drever has been guilty of numerous counts of robbery.
The evidence, on full display, has been in the goal-crease time and again. Indeed, Drever is known to steal hockey games away from opponents. It’s happened before for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and they hope it happens yet again.
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“You have to steal games in our (Canada West conference) league,” offered U of S head coach Steve Kook, whose eighth-ranked team opens the 2024 U Sports national women’s hockey championship tournament Thursday night (7 p.m.) against the top-ranked Concordia Stingers at Merlis Belsher Place.
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“Everyone makes fun of us with all our one-goal games, but that’s what we live on … We’re asking Cam to do it one more time.”
Once, twice, or even three times over the next three days, in fact.
“I sure hope so,” Drever said. “It’d be pretty awesome to go out with a win.”
The Huskies, who finished the regular season with a 19-7-2 record before losing two of three Canada West conference playoff games to send them to the sidelines until nationals.
“The hardest part of getting to a national championship is getting out of our conference,” added Kook. “There could have been five teams to represent the west at nationals and they’re all going to do well. So, just having Cam back there gives us that comfort level that we can be in a one-goal game and we don’t have to worry about having to play in a panic state. We just know she’s back there.”
Drever is back there for one last time with the Huskies as she wraps up her final year of U Sports eligibility.
“Obviously a pretty exciting way to finish off the career,” said Drever, a 5-foot-7 College of Education student from Edmonton.
“I’m just really excited for the opportunity to finish it off at home.”
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Drever was the main reason why Saskatchewan reached the national championship tournament two years ago, when the Huskies claimed the bronze medal. This season, Drever captured Canada West player of the year honours and was a finalist for the U Sports player of the year award being presented late Wednesday night in Saskatoon.
“I haven’t really thought too much about it,” Drever said. “I didn’t even know I was up for the U Sports player of the year until Steve said so. I’m pretty honoured to be up for that award.”
An early exit from the Canada West playoffs left the Huskies on the outside looking in until the national championship this week, but there was a silver lining. The Huskies are healthy, rested and extra motivated.
“It’s definitely disappointing to lose out in the quarterfinals, especially in a Game 3,” admitted Drever, who thought her team played well enough to win the series.
“We just couldn’t get a bounce go our way. It definitely fuels our fire for nationals. I think we put ourselves in a tough position the past couple of years, with the (lack of) home playoff advantage. We’re kind of used to that underdog mentality. In some ways, it kind of helps us going into nationals.”
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Drever and the Huskies will be counting on their previous experience at a national championship.
“Obviously it’s a grind to get there and the team that shows up is going to play their best,” she said. “I think we just need to come out with that same mentality that they’re not going to give up so we can’t give up, too. It’s going to be an awesome ride.”
A home crowd at Merlis Belsher Place can only help, she added.
“We’ve done a lot of work with the community and our alumni,” noted Drever. “I think it’ll be so special for them to be a part of that and experience the top eight teams in the country playing at nationals. It also means more fans for us and more family and friends that can come and watch. It’s a special feeling.”
dzary@postmedia.com
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