EDMONTON — No head coach? No problem. The University of Alberta hockey Pandas won one without bench boss Howie Draper on Friday afternoon, opening their best-of-three Canada West semifinal series against Saskatchewan, using early goals in each of the first two periods in a 3-0 victory.

Draper, away leading the province’s women’s hockey team at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax, handed the reins over to assistants Dan Bouwmeester and former Pandas star Danielle Bourgeois and the team didn’t skip a beat.

Sure, it missed the odd scoring opportunity, especially in a lopsided opening 20 minutes, but the rare early-afternoon start may have had something to do with the rustiness around the net.

Karla Bourke got Alberta off to a quick start with a deflection just 2:53 into the first on a power play with Saskatchewan’s Amanda Stillborn off for hooking.

The Pandas peppered Huskies goaltender Mackenzie Rizos, outshooting the visitors 11-1 in the first 11 minutes of the game, which included a two-man advantage for just under a minute.

At the other end, very little seemed to be getting through to Alberta netminder Kanesa Shwetz, who faced just 12 overall shots, including six in the opening period. Meanwhile, the Pandas had fired 34 in total at Rizos, who was fortunate as Alberta’s Alana Cabana snapped one just wide from the slot late in the first.

Pandas captain Leah Copeland made it 2-0 on another Alberta power play just 18 seconds into the second period. Saskatchewan’s Sara White had the Huskies’ best opportunity of the game just over a minute later, but slipped it wide in a period in which Saskatchewan had 6:58 worth of power-play time over a 12-minute span, but did not manage a single shot on Shwetz.

Katie Borbely made it 3-0 at 13:17 of the third period for Alberta. Stalwart Pandas defenceman Nicole Pratt, with an assist, was solid throughout the afternoon.

Game 2 goes Saturday at 2 p.m. at Clare Drake Arena and, if necessary, Game 3 is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. at the U of A campus.

A victory Saturday means Alberta will push through to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship, slated for March 10-13 at Wilfrid Laurier University.

mannicchiarico@edmontonjournal.com

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