Skip to main content

Chad Klassen scored two goals, including the game-winner, as the No. 1 Alberta Golden Bears beat the No. 4 Lakehead Thunderwolves 5-3 on Saturday to earn a spot in the final of the Canadian university men's hockey championship.

Alberta will face the third-seeded Saint Mary's Huskies on Sunday for the Cavendish University Cup. The Huskies beat the No. 5 Manitoba Bisons 5-0 earlier Saturday.

Sean Ringrose, Kyle Fecho and Ian McDonald also scored for Alberta. Brock McPherson had two for Lakehead, while Ryan Baird had the other goal.

Special teams were the difference as seven of the eight goals, including Klassen's game-winner, came on the power play. Alberta went 4-for-7 with the man advantage, while Lakehead was 2-for-6.

The Golden Bears shelled Thunderwolves goaltender Alex Dupuis with 20 shots during the pivotal second period, scoring twice - including one with seven seconds left in the period - to take a 3-2 lead to the locker-room.

Alberta outshot the host Thunderwolves 41-26 overall.

Travis Yonkman picked up the win for the Golden Bears.

Earlier Saturday, Andrew Hotham and Cam Fergus led Saint Mary's over Manitoba.

Fergus had two goals and Hotham, the Atlantic University Sport top-scoring defenceman this season, had a goal and two assists against an overmatched Bisons team. Cody Thornton and Colby Pridham also scored.

"We had 20 guys who were ready to play today and I think it was pretty obvious from the puck drop," said Huskies coach Trevor Stienburg. "The guys have called this a business trip from day one, and today they got the job done."

Saint Mary's is 10-1 in post-season play and has won 14 of its last 15 overall.

"Manitoba is a very good hockey team. I don't think we're five goals better than them," added Stienburg. "Things just went our way today."

Rookie goaltender Neil Conway picked up the shutout with 19 saves.

Interact with The Globe