The U of S Huskies host the University of Calgary Dinos in pre-season action Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Merlis Belsher Place.
Published Sep 14, 2023 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read
With plenty of spots to fill, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team is relying on a bumper crop of new recruits.
The Huskies have said goodbye to three of their top five scorers and eight players overall from last season.
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Gone are captain Connor Hobbs, Jared Dmytriw (pro, Vasteras IK, Sweden) and Cael Zimmerman, along with Alex Zawatsky (pro, SC Riessersee, Germany), Evan Fiala, Tate Olson, Brayden Camrud and Aiden Bulych.
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Newcomers include Evan Bortis (Niverville Nighthawks, MJHL), Mac Gross (Spokane Chiefs, WHL), Cade Hayes (Spokane Chiefs, WHL), Jace Isley (Red Deer Rebels, WHL), Reed Jacobson (Canmore Eagles, AJHL and Spokane Chiefs, WHL), Cole Jordan (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL, Calgary Flames NHL draft pick), Raphael Pelletier (Swift Current Broncos, Everett Silvertips, WHL), Josh Pillar (Saskatoon Blades, WHL), Cohner Saleski (Yorkton Terriers, SJHL), Keaton Sorensen (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL) and Ben Tkachuk (Melfort Mustangs, SJHL).
“On paper, I’m really happy,” said U of S head coach Brandin Cote, whose team will host the University of Calgary Dinos in pre-season action Friday night (7 p.m.) and Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.) at Merlis Belsher Place.
“We’ll have a good test against the U of C. They didn’t lose a ton of guys and they added some pretty key guys that we were talking to, as well. I like the way it’s sorted itself out.”
Parker Gavlas, who was with the Huskies prior to last season, returns for a second go-round. Gavlas is a versatile player who can be utilized as a defenceman or forward.
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“I think we did (get some key recruits),” added Cote, who returns for his second season as head coach. “Obviously they’re younger, so it’s going to take some time. There are also guys who are now in their third year that are going to have the capability to step up and fill some of those holes that are left with some of the guys who have left.
“I like our group. I like our depth. I like our team speed. That was very apparent (this past weekend in Big River during exhibition games against the University of Regina Cougars). That’s really something we’re excited about. At the same time, we’ve got a lot of new guys so it’s going to take some time for guys to adjust, too.”
Isley, Hayes, Sorensen, Pillar, Pelletier, Jacobson, Tkachuk and Saleski are all forwards. Jordan, Gross and Jordan are D-men who’ll look to make up for the loss of someone like Hobbs.
“Connor Hobbs is one guy that you’ll never, ever see, or rarely see a guy like that come through U Sport again — it was an anomaly,” said Cote.
“We’re happy to have had him. Obviously, he was a guy who made an impact on a lot of different guys in a lot of ways, but it is what it is. But, as far as our D corps, we’ve got a really big, solid, mobile group. I’m comfortable with it.”
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Up front, Dmytriw, Camrud, Bulych and Zimmerman all had U Sports eligibility remaining but have decided to move on.
Zimmerman was one of the top rookies last season so his departure is a bit unexpected.
“He really wants to be a commercial pilot — he thought about it over the summer a lot. It’s just the path he wants to go now and he feels he needs to take advantage of it now.”
DOG TALES: Isley, one of the top recruits who scored 30 goals last season with Red Deer, left Tuesday to attend the NHL New Jersey Devils’ camp. “It’s exciting for him to go,” said Cote. “He’s going to be a key guy for us. We sure hope he does well for himself and it’s great on our program when we have guys going to these things. We’re really looking forward to having him be a Huskie.” Holdover Gunner Kinniburgh will be leaving to attend the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets camp, where former Huskies’ head coach Mike Babcock has taken over as head coach of the Blue Jackets.
dzary@postmedia.com
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