Music: {allcanada} Saint Mary's tops Waterloo, moves to CIS final

Saturday, March 16, 2013

{allcanada} Saint Mary's tops Waterloo, moves to CIS final

SASKATOON — Shawn O'Donnell scored twice and added three assists as the fourth-seeded Saint Mary's Huskies advanced to the final of the CIS men's hockey championship by crushing the Waterloo Warriors 5-1 on Saturday.

Cory Tanaka also scored twice and had two assists for Saint Mary's, which will take on the winner between the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds and University of Quebec at Trois-Rivieres Patriotes in the other semi.

"We're pretty relieved," said Huskies coach Trevor Stienburg following the game. "We don't take anything for granted so we feel pretty fortunate."

Waterloo scored its only goal early in the game when Justin Larson netted his second of the tournament 26 seconds in.

But it was all SMU from there as O'Donnell tied the game at 16:08 and Tanaka made it 2-1 six minutes into the second.

The Huskies put the game away with three quick goals in the third from O'Donnell, Tanaka and Michael Stickland.

"We came out as a desperate team," O'Donnell said. "We kept things simple, and it was just one of those nights the puck was going in."

O'Donnell was named Huskies player of the game. No player has put up as many points in a single game at this tournament since 2005, when the University of Alberta's Ben Kilgour had a six point game.

Saint Mary's played most of the game without points leader Lucas Bloodoff, who was ejected halfway through the first period after receiving a five minute major and a game misconduct for a check to the head.

Bloodoff — who was named CIS player of the year Wednesday night — was also kicked out during the Huskies' 4-3 overtime loss against the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday for another check to the head.

Following the game, the CIS discipline committee announced Bloodoff would be allowed to play in the final.

The Warriors spent much of the game on the penalty kill as the Huskies were given seven power-play opportunities but converted only once on Stickland's goal at 14:51 of the third.

Waterloo's Kain Allicock received a five minute penalty for a check to the head late in the first, and Kirt Hill received another for checking from behind in the third. Both resulted in 10-minute misconducts.

Warriors Coach Brian Bourque said his team let their emotion get the better of them.

"We got a little undisciplined for a couple of minutes there, which has not been characteristic of our team this year," he said. "The games are officiated a little bit closer than in league play."

Saint Mary's goalie Anthony Peters stopped 23 shots, displaying some impressive glove work against the Warriors.

Waterloo netminder Keaton Hartigan faced a punishing 50 shots on goal.

The Huskies are looking for a second University Cup title since winning it for the first time in 2010. The team lost in the CIS finals four years in a row to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues between 1970 and 1973, making Sunday their sixth appearance in the national finals.