BOX SCORE

SASKATOON – At 6:33 of the third overtime, Brett Ward scored the game winning goal to crown the University of Saskatchewan Huskies the Canada West champions and winning Game 3 of the best-of-three series 2-1 against the University of Calgary Dinos on Sunday night at the Rutherford Rink.

In a game which will stand as the longest in the 83-year history of the Rutherford Rink and the longest in the history of the Dinos program, Ward fired a quick shot from the left side of the rink beating Dustin Butler for the golden goal.

The series got to Game 3 after a tenacious effort by the Huskies on Saturday when they picked up a 4-1 victory. Calgary took the opening game of the series 2-1 after Luke Egener scored in overtime.

Saturday night the Dinos had an excellent first 10 minutes filled with a series of good scoring chances but were just unable to light the lamp. That changed in Game 3 as Calgary got on the scoreboard just 1:56 into the match. A scramble in front of the net left Ryan Holfeld out of position and gave Tyler Fiddler the opportunity to net his third of the playoffs.

With a slow start behind them the Huskies got things going in the second half of the opening frame. The shot clock read 5-0 for the longest time before Saskatchewan began to get the puck on net by driving right towards Butler. The Dinos had two huge penalty kills to end the period as they took a 1-0 lead into the break.

A very even second period would see the score get knotted up as Saskatchewan notched one on the power play. Chris Durand threw the puck into the slot where Matthew Spafford lifted a backhander over the shoulder of Butler at 9:22.

The clubs went back and forth for the remainder of the middle frame, but nothing came of it as the game went into the third period squared at 1-1.

The see-saw battle transferred over to the third stanza as each team searched for the deciding goal. A couple of near misses by both sides brought the fans to their feet a number of times, but a champion would have to be found in overtime.

In the first overtime Calgary seemed to have the majority of the play even when they weren't getting shots, but Saskatchewan wasn't far behind with a couple of close calls beside the Dinos' net. The Huskies outshot the Dinos 12-4 in the first overtime, but with no goals scored the game went into double overtime.

The second overtime started with a bang as Derek Hulak had the puck on his stick with an empty net in front of him. Before the red light could turn on though, Butler threw his body across the crease to swallow up the puck and deny a goal. The Dinos got the next few key chances. Holfeld would stop a tipped shot from the blue line with his toe and later in the period robbed Teegan Moore on a one-timer. Like the first overtime though, no one could beat either Butler or Holfeld as the teams got ready for a sixth period.

Just over six minutes into the third overtime, Ward sealed the deal and sent the Huskies to Nationals in Fredericton, N.B. where they will fight for the University Cup.

The Dinos outshot the Huskies 43-42. Calgary was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Saskatchewan went 1-for-5.

-UC-