Bisons find it’s tough being on top

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/01/2018 (2295 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Manitoba women’s hockey team worked hard to earn the program’s first No. 1 national ranking last month.

But if they didn’t know it already, the Bisons are learning they will have to intensify their efforts if they want to maintain their lofty position atop the U Sports scene.

They are ranked first, but opponents are highly motivated to beat them.

That was apparent Friday as the pesky Saskatchewan Huskies looked like the better team for much of the night at Wayne Fleming Arena, jumping out to a 1-0 lead on Kayla Kirwan’s goal 2:38 into the first period en route to a 3-1 victory in Canada West action.

Rachel Lundberg scored the winner at 12:02 of the third period for the unranked Huskies, who held off a desperate Manitoba push in the last 10 minutes.

Emily Upgang added an empty-net insurance marker with 1:12 left in the third.

Lauryn Keen, the Canada West MVP in 2016-17, scored with less than five minutes remaining, by redirecting Caitlin Fyten’s centring pass off her skate to pull the hosts to within one goal at 2-1.

“Yeah, I’d say there’s quite a bit of pressure on us,” Keen said. “We’re just trying not to think too much about (the No. 1 ranking) too much. There’s a lot of people talking about it, so we’re trying to keep it in the back of our minds and play like we usually do.”

Saskatchewan, third in Canada West with a 12-6-1-0 record, gave Manitoba, which dropped to 13-5-1-0, all it could handle and more.

“We knew that coming in,” said Keen, whose Bisons will face the Huskies in a rematch today at 4 p.m. “I don’t think we played like we should have today. We came out a little flat and that came up to bite us. We need to come out stronger tomorrow, that’s for sure.”

Manitoba head coach Jon Rempel had plenty of respect for the Huskies, but wasn’t particularly happy with his team nevertheless

“The rankings in U Sports aren’t meaningless but they’re skewed at times,” Rempel said. “(Saskatchewan) should be in the top 10.

“We were tight and you’re going to get every team’s best game (when you’re No. 1). That’s what happened today. They were prepared to play, we were flat and I didn’t think we approached the game well and didn’t think our emotional level was where it needed to be. And if you’re going to be at that level and stay at that level, you have to perform at that level.”

Early in the third period, Kirwan appeared to give the visitors a 2-0 edge when her shot hit a post and banked off Bisons goaltender Rachel Dyck’s back. The goal judge activated the red light as the puck rolled toward the goal line, but the referee waved it off.

“The goal judge was pretty adamant,” said Saskatchewan head coach Steve Kook, grateful the call did not have a bigger impact on the game.

The Bisons have been hampered recently by the absence of star forward Venla Hovi, who is currently in her native Finland vying for a position on her country’s national team and a chance to play in her third Winter Olympics.

Hovi is expected to miss another five weeks of action before returning to Winnipeg after the Pyeongchang Games. Her arrival would coincide with the second round of the Canada West playoffs.

“She definitely plays a big role on our team,” Keen said. “There’s nothing we can do about it, but we’re pretty proud of her to be where she is. We’re trying to do our best without her and get us into position for when she gets back.”

Rempel has been juggling his lines to adjust to Hovi’s absence.

“When you’re looking at a point-per-game player plus the maturity and the experience and speed, plus it allows me with my lineup to create primary and secondary scoring,” Rempel said. “So, without her, yeah, it’s a big hole for sure.”

Kook said he had no problem with his team being unranked.

“As far as not being ranked, for me as a coach I’m always happy to be the underdog,” Kook said. “But we’ve been inconsistent this year. So, do we deserve to be ranked?

“Maybe, sometimes. But you know I think they have the right rankings. Manitoba’s been playing pretty consistent. B.C.’s been pretty consistent and Alberta’s been on a roll for the last month.”

MEN’S HOCKEY: No. 9 Manitoba and fourth-ranked Saskatchewan met Friday night in Saskatoon with the Huskies coming away with a 6-2 victory. Adam Henry and Remi Laurencelle had goals for the Bisons.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14