Ward returns in a big way
Nov. 7, 2009 - Regina Leader-Post
By Tim Switzer
The University of Regina Cougars men's hockey team went without much offence again Friday, but it was more than goaltender Adam Ward needed.
Making his first start of the season after sitting out with a broken finger, Ward stopped all 37 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at the Sherwood Ice Sports Centre.
"He has been working hard the last month trying to get back in the lineup and he shut the door awesome for us," said forward Tanner Shultz. "We weren't sure how the transition would be after sitting out a month and a half and with a broken finger, but he was unreal."
Ward, who had the majority of the starts late last season as the Cougars made their way to the second round of the Canada West playoffs was the likely No. 1 starter heading into the current campaign before being sidelined with the injury.
"It's pretty frustrating having to sit out and watch your team," said Ward, a former member of the Regina Pats who is in his fourth season with the Cougars. "I had a couple injuries in junior that kept me out for an extended period of time, but it's always tough."
Ward returned to practising last week, but with only a few days on the ice, coaches decided not to play him during games against the Calgary Dinos on Oct. 30 and 31. With a little more conditioning time under his belt, he became a better option for Friday's contest.
"Honestly I felt a little rusty off the start and it took awhile to get back into that game-speed feeling," said Ward. "I felt my best in the third period."
If that indeed was the case, it didn't show through the first 40 minutes.
Ward stood his ground for 12 shots in the scoreless first period, including several on a 5-on-3 Lethbridge power play that lasted 1:02.
Shultz finally opened the scoring on the power play when he banged home his first of the year while falling to his knees at 6:03 of the second. Lethbridge (3-5-1) regained momentum for the last 10 minutes of the middle frame, but were turned away 13 times by Ward, including two point-blank stops with the Pronghorns threatening on the powerplay.
Ward may have saved his best for last, sliding to his left to make a stop on a 3-on-2 break with five minutes left in the game. That save turned into a Regina scoring chance, but the Pronghorns were able to come right back down as Jason Roberts stick-handled his way free but his shot from the slot was cleared away by Ward.
With the Lethbridge net empty, a pair of quick passes by Partik Bhungal and Bryan Kauk put Craig Cuthbert in the clear to score the insurance marker with 20 seconds left.
Ward may have been forced to face more shots had it not been for the Cougars' willingness to get in front of pucks.
"I think Shultz stopped as many as Wardo," Regina head coach Blaine Sautner said with a chuckle. "That's just one of the things we've done well. We blocked a lot of shots on the penalty kill and scored a goal on the power play. When your special teams do that, you've got a chance to win."
The Cougars (3-6-0) managed just 15 shots, but players and coaches are used to the lack of offensive production. Regina ranks last in the seven-team conference with just 16 goals in nine games.
"I think we had more chances than the shots showed," Shultz said. "But if we can block 20 shots and we can get 30 saves for the goaltender and get a couple goals, we'll be OK."
Regina and Lethbridge face off again today at 7 p.m. at the Sherwood.