Huskies advance to semi-finals with decisive 4-0 win over Tigers

HALIFAX, NS - Saint Mary's goaltender Ridleigh Hansen stopped 31 shots for her second straight shutout and forward Avery Cant added a goal and an assist, as the Huskies defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 4-0 to sweep their best-of-three series and advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey championship on Friday night at the Halifax Forum.

The Huskies outscored the Tigers 6-0 over their two-game sweep to advance to the AUS semifinal for the 11th straight season, with Hansen stopping all 58 shots she faced over the series.

The game's first five minutes were quiet, with just one shot on goal between both teams. Shortly after, the Huskies had several chances in the crease, but Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) shut the door.

Kennedy Whelan (Alliston, ON) had a partial break early in the first period, getting a wrist shot on goal. Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) made the save with comfort.

Midway through the first period, Huskies fifth-year forward Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) opened the scoring. On the same day that she was named the 2023-24 AUS Top Defensive Player, Hatt showed her scoring touch, skating down the right wing and unleashing a wicked wrist shot that beat Beer glove side. Hatt's second goal of the playoffs and seventh of her playoff career gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead, 9:34 into the first period.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

The Top Defensive Player of the Year can score the puck a little bit too! A snipe from Miranda Hatt to open the scoring, as the Huskies take a 1-0 lead in Game Two of the @AUS_SUA Quarterfinal!

�� M. Hatt (2)
�� G. Lapierre pic.twitter.com/j7OGTCXX8X

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 16, 2024

With just under five minutes of the first period left, Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) had a scoring chance coming out of the left corner. She missed the net top right as the Tigers avoided a 2-0 deficit.

But the Huskies would double their lead with just 1:32 remaining in the period, as defender Allie Barter (Hammonds Plains, NS) unleashed a bouncing one-timer from the point that trickled through Beer's five-hole to put the visitors up 2-0.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

A seeing-eye shot from Allie Barter somehow ends up in goal, doubling the Huskies lead to 2-0 late in the first period!

�� A. Barter (1)
�� K. MacLean
�� J. Duggan pic.twitter.com/lBd10ZPQdE

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 16, 2024

The Huskies took the lead into the second period, with the shots tied 9-9 between the two sides.

Dalhousie came out in the second period, applying much more pressure as they looked to cut into the Huskies lead. Moments later, the Huskies had a good scoring chance with Beer making the save, but the Tigers took a penalty for hooking, putting the Huskies on the powerplay.

The Tigers successfully killed the penalty, with Beer making key saves. Under a minute after the penalty kill, the Huskies took a penalty. The Tigers took to the powerplay after the holding penalty.

Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS) had a shorthanded chance dragging the puck to the Tigers net with a defender on her. Beer made the save, bringing Dal's powerplay to an end without a shot on goal for the Tigers.

Whelan walked into the offensive zone, receiving a pass, but Hansen denied her shot on goal. The Tigers had several more opportunities, but Hansen made a series of great saves to keep the door shut.

The rest of the period included key chances from both teams, but none could convert. The Huskies took a 2-0 lead going into the third period, with Saint Mary's outshooting Dalhousie 26-20.

Brooklyn Paisley (Shawnigan Lake, BC) opened the third period with a shot on goal as Hansen made the pad save.

Just over two minutes into the frame, the Huskies piled a few chances on Beer. Beer remained strong after a tough start, keeping the Tigers in the game.

The Tigers piled on some pressure and played with more physicality in the third period. 

The Huskies got a powerplay with under eight minutes left of the game, and took advantage as Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) forced a turnover in the Tigers zone and shot the puck past Beer to make it 3-0.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Aimee O'Neill capitalizes on the Tigers turnover to extend the Huskies lead to 3-0!

�� A. O'Neill (1)
�� C. Buffie pic.twitter.com/34AeDjHdX2

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 17, 2024

With 5:39 left in the period, the Huskies were on another powerplay and defender Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) unleashed her notorious slapshot, beating Beer to secure the 4-0 victory.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Maddy Corbett breaks out the rocket launcher to put the Tigers on ice, 4-0! Huskies advance to the @AUS_SUA semi-final!

�� M. Corbett (1)
�� A. O'Neill
�� J. Duggan pic.twitter.com/25nsm6Bp8p

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 17, 2024 

First year forward Avery Cant was named Player of the Game for the Huskies with a goal and an assist.

The Huskies outshot the Tigers 44-31 on the night, with Ridleigh Hansen making 31 saves for the shutout, while Grace Beer turned away 40 shots in defeat and was named Dalhousie's Player of the Game.

With the win the #3 seed Huskies will advance to play the #2 seed UNB REDS in the semi-final, with dates to be announced.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Nick Pearce / Dalhousie Tigers Athletics