The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are Canada West Champions for 2015-16, and headed to the national university championship tournament.
And former Yorkton Junior Terrier Daylan Gatzke is going with them.
A pair of third period goals in the span of just 15-seconds were the difference for the Huskies, as the team won 3-2 over the Alberta Golden Bears in Game Two of the Canada West Men’s Hockey Final at Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon.
After a 4-0 win in Game One, Saturday’s result lifted Saskatchewan to their first conference banner since 2011-12 and the 16th in program history.
Gatzke said the two games were big, with the U of A Bears being two-time defending national champions.
“The University of Alberta is pretty notorious for being a good hockey team,” he said, but he added the Huskies were prepared. “We were just fired up.”
For the most part the Huskies rolled four lines, and it worked.
“Our coach was pretty confident in everybody, in all four lines,” he said.
A playoff series in the CIS is a quick, three-game affair.
“Blink and it’s done,” said Gatzke.
Gatzke however sat in the stands for the two games. He admitted it was tough to sit and watch, but he said he recognizes he will get his time in the seasons ahead.
“It’s a little bit frustrating,” he said.
But instead of dwelling on not being in the line-up he instead celebrated watching long-time Huskie players winning their first crown.
“You’ve got to be happy for them, the fifth year guys, and I’ll get my time, my chance,” he said.
Gatzke, who completed his time with the Terriers after the Royal Bank Cup championship in 2014, said the Huskies team exceeded expectations this season.
“I came into it (the season) with pretty low expectations,” he admitted in a telephone interview with Yorkton This Week.
But the Huskies added a number of new faces, and the rookies came up big.
“The rookies have been great,” said Gatzke, himself a walk-on with the team last fall.
On many nights it has been the new faces who led the team over the year.
Gatzke did note that rookies at the CIS level are 21 or older, so tend to step into the college game with a good understanding of what is expected.
“They definitely have a better idea of how it works,” he said, adding they are aware of the rigours of practice and games.
“They know their jobs and what it takes.”
That said, there are challenges to playing hockey at the university level which are unique.
“You have to maintain good marks in school,” said Gatzke, adding that has to be accomplished amid hockey practices, games and general life.
“You have to balance everything. It’s trying to find that balance.”
In terms of hockey, games are focused on weekends.
“That’s kind of a nice thing,” he said, adding when throngs go badly in a game “you have a week to shake it off.”
The CIS University Cup will be held in Halifax March 17-20.
Gatzke said he may not play, but he will be ready, adding in a format where a loss sends you home, everybody has to be ready.
“You approach it where you’ve got to give everything you’ve got,” he said.
In addition to Gatzke the Huskies have a number of former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League players including Sean Aschim, Blake Both, and Preston Stokes all former Melville Millionaires.
