Top-seeded Huskies stunned by Saint Mary’s in University Cup quarter-final loss

A promising run at the 2026 University Cup ended before it ever really began for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Thursday night.

The Huskies men’s hockey team saw their 2026-26 season come to an end in Halifax, N.S. in heartbreaking fashion with a 4-3 overtime loss to the host Saint Mary’s University Huskies in quarter-finals of the U Sports national championship.

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Saint Mary’s blueliner Ethan Ritchie sent the home crowd at Scotiabank Centre into hysterics with a game-winning goal past Saskatchewan goaltender Nolan Maier just over 16 minutes into the extra frame.

Saskatchewan entered the tournament as the number one seed following their second consecutive Canada West men’s hockey title, finishing conference playoffs with a perfect 6-0 record.

That undefeated run came to an end Thursday night, as the Huskies now head back to Saskatoon without a medal in 2026.

With seconds ticking down to end the first period at 4-on-4, Saint Mary’s took advantage of an overcommitting Saskatchewan side with Reid Valade sniping a drop pass from Jake Uberti past Maier for the game’s opening goal.

Saint Mary’s extended their lead just 37 seconds into the second period on the power play, a point shot from Ben Allison which found its way through traffic for the 2-0 advantage.

Saskatchewan’s deficit grew to 3-0 with under five minutes left in the middle frame on a goal by Uberti for his second point of the night with a far-side snipe on Maier.

The visiting Huskies finally got on the board less than a minute after Uberti’s goal, as U Sports men’s hockey co-rookie of the year Conner Roulette picked off a loose puck and danced in to beat Marcus Vandenberg for the highlight-reel goal.

A 3-1 deficit was short-lived for Saskatchewan coming out of the second intermission with Roulette netting his second goal of the night, a curl and drag wrist shot off the rush 15 seconds into the third period.

Saint Mary’s defenceman Nolan Dillingham was charged with a tripping penalty with 2:56 left in regulation, giving a Saskatchewan power play which struggled all night one final chance to strike.

With 2:10 left in the third and Saskatchewan cycling the puck on the man advantage, Chantz Petruic worked the puck to Liam Keeler streaking towards the net for the back-door tap in to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.

Both sides traded breakaway chances over the extra frame with Valade and Petruic each getting clean looks at the net, only to be stopped to keep the quarter-final game going.

The game-winner came with 3:45 remaining in the overtime period, as Ritchie creeped into the slot and redirected the pass from Ben Boyd to eliminate Saskatchewan and advance to U Sports semi-finals.

A second straight podium finish at the U Sports national championship was not to be for the visiting Huskies after capturing bronze at last year’s tournament in Ottawa.

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The program will now see six fifth-year veterans including Petruic, Quinton Ong, Dawson Holt, Jarrett Penner, Jordan Kooy and captain Gunner Kinniburgh depart as graduates.

A Huskies men’s hockey team hasn’t captured a U Sports national championship since 1982-83, the only team to do so in school history.