REGINA -- Defenceman
Chase Hartje continued his impressive start to the 2022-23 Canada West season on Friday night in Regina, recording a goal and an assist as the men's hockey team got their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over the Cougars. Both teams are now 1-2 on the campaign.
Hartje now has ten points in three games, which ties him for first in the conference with Riley Sawchuk and Nolan Yaremko of Mount Royal, who have played one and two more games, respectively. Hartje's point total also matches his numbers from all of last year, where he played in 15 regular season games.
The blue-liner's first point came at 4:38 of the second period, as he assisted on
Colton Veloso's first goal of the season (the 17th of his Bisons career) on the power play. Hartje did a great job keeping the puck from sliding past the blue line, rushing to his left to maintain possession, and a few seconds later he got the biscuit back and delivered a shot right on net from the point. The rebound on the five-hole attempt went right onto the waiting stick of Veloso, who buried it to the goalie's right to open the scoring.
Less than three minutes later, Hartje buried the game-winner on a jaw-dropping single-handed effort where he sped past four different Cougars. He took possession in his own end, racing behind the net and picking up steam past the blue line. He then sped past two defenders near the glass in the attacking zone and delivered a quick shot that found the back of the net from near the the right point.
Regina was able to trim Manitoba's lead to one, but couldn't solve Manitoba netminder
Ross Hawryluk, who made 22 saves in the third period for his first career U SPORTS win. Impressive stops on a back-hander from in close from Eric Houk, as well as a five-hole attempt from just inside the point by Riley Krane were amongst the stops made by Hawryluk.
The two teams will go at it again tomorrow in Regina in the rematch.
