Cougars tame Bisons 2-1 in Game 1

Recap by Ethan Bomhof, Mount Royal Sports Information

CALGARY, Alta – Jordynne Hojnocki's first career playoff goal gave the Mount Royal University Cougars a 2-1 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons in game one of the Canada West women's hockey semifinal. 

The Bisons were coming off a quarterfinal win last weekend, knocking off the defending Canada West champion Alberta Pandas. They came hot out of the gates and instilled a physical presence on the Cougars. 

Despite the push from Manitoba, Mount Royal didn't waver from their gameplan. 

"I thought we responded well," said MRU head coach Scott Rivett. "They're coming off a big series win and were motivated to keep rolling. We matched their play early." 

The first goal of the game came midway through the first period, when Jerzey Watteyne whacked home a loose puck after the initial point shot was stopped by Bisons veteran netminder Emily Shippam. 

Shippam and the Bisons pleaded with the officials that the puck was covered before Watteyne forced it across the line, but the goal was upheld and MRU had a 1-0 lead. 

Cougars netminder Scout Anderson made her first career playoff start and did not disappoint. Anderson stopped 17 of the 18 shots she faced to secure the victory for Mount Royal. 

The Bisons lone goal came partway through the second period on a powerplay. Anderson lost her stick and was trying to retrieve it when Bisons captain Dana Goertzen saw an opportunity to fire a backhand through the fivehole. The marker was Goertzen's first career playoff goal. 

Manitoba's equalizer was almost immediately wiped out. Just 28 seconds after Goertzen's goal, Jordynne Hojnocki scored off a low point shot to restore the Cougars lead. 

Mount Royal would hold on the rest of the way, even with added pressure from the Bisons late in the game with the extra attacker. 

Manitoba has been the underdog through their postseason run and will keep that identity going into a do-or-die game two. 

"We've been playing playoff style hockey since coming back from the [holiday] break," said Manitoba head coach Jordan Colliton. "Having that mentality means we know we have to earn it." 

"We'll try our best to even it out tomorrow and hopefully bring it to game three. 

Game two of the series is back at Flames Community Arena on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. MST. Tickets are still available and the game can be streamed live on Canada West TV.