Bears’ weekend highlights offensive struggles

The University of Alberta Golden Bears lost both games to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on the January 24 weekend, losing 7-4 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday. The two games followed different scripts, but together they highlighted the same issue Alberta has been dealing with all season.

Friday was open and fast. Alberta got production from its top players, led by Tyson Laventure’s hat-trick. The Bears applied pressure, created chances, and stayed within reach for most of the game. Saskatchewan was comfortable playing that style. After nearly closing a 2-5 deficit at the end of the second, the Huskies pulled away in the third, with an empty-netter to seal the game.

Saturday was over earlier. Alberta defended well early and limited odd-man rushes, but once Saskatchewan scored three in the first period, the Bears couldn’t keep up. Alberta finished with two goals on 20 shots, while Saskatchewan scored six times and never broke a sweat protecting the lead.

Across the weekend, Alberta allowed 13 goals in two games, but, more importantly, the Bears only scored six. Three goals per game is all they could produce offensively against one of the conference’s best teams.

That gap explains more than just this series.

The Bears’ defensive play has not fallen off dramatically. They still limit chances better than most teams in the conference, and goaltending has been steady. The issue is what happens when games demand offense. Against elite opponents, Alberta no longer has the ability to turn games into track meets or erase mistakes with scoring runs. Once a game turns into a shootout, the Bears seem to run out of ammunition.

That change traces back to the offseason.

Leaving town

In one fatal summer, Alberta lost the core of its offense. Connor McClennon left for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I hockey following a rule change that opened that door. Captain Josh Prokop signed professionally in Europe. Tyler Preziuso followed him overseas. Together, those three accounted for a large share of the Bears’ goals and top-line minutes over the past two seasons.

Unfortunately, replacing that level of production is difficult in any league, especially in a single offseason.

This season, Alberta is relying on players who were previously complementary pieces to carry the load. Laventure and Adam Hall have taken on larger roles up front. Dawson Davidson has become a key offensive driver from the blue line. Those players have stepped up and delivered solid numbers, but the overall output has understandably dropped. You cannot sustainably rely on a defenceman to drive your offense.

The numbers don’t lie

Last season, Alberta finished well above .600 and regularly scored five or more goals. This year, they sit below .500, averaging roughly 3.4 goals per game while allowing about 3.5. Their goal differential has flipped from comfortably positive to slightly negative. Against top teams, that margin disappears quickly.

The weekend against Saskatchewan reflected that harsh reality. When the games opened up, Alberta could compete but not separate. When the pace slowed, they struggled to generate enough offense to stay in it.

This does not look like a team lacking effort or structure. It looks like a team adjusting to a new reality. The defense keeps games close. The offense is still finding its ceiling.

For the Golden Bears, the story of this season is not collapse. It is transition. Weekends like this one show exactly where the work still needs to be done.