Golden Bears return to University Cup final with win over Huskies

Alberta Golden Bears forward Luke Philp. (U Sports)

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Riley Kieser, Luke Philp, and Grayson Pawlenchuk scored third-period goals to power the defending champion Alberta Golden Bears past the No. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies 3-0 in a U Sports men’s hockey semifinal Saturday.

Goaltender Zach Sawchenko stopped 33 shots to register the shutout in a rematch of the Canada West final.

"We know against these guys, they’re always close games," said Alberta head coach Ian Herbers. "We kept playing the right way and finally found the back of the net."

Kieser opened the scoring at 1:38 of the third before Philp made it 2-0 at 10:32. Pawlenchuck cemented the victory with a short-handed, empty-net goal at 19:30.

Top-seeded Alberta will face No. 2 New Brunswick in the final on Sunday after the Varsity Reds hammered the No. 6 St. Francis Xavier X-Men 9-1.

Kris Bennett scored four goals to lead the X-Men.

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