Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The West Division-leading Mount Royal University Cougars came at the Griffins in waves on Saturday night.
Brett Epp, however, was equal to the task, kicking out puck after puck after puck.
The fifth-year goaltender made 39 saves as MacEwan – despite being outshot 2-to-1 – had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments.
That they did not, losing 2-1 to the Cougars, was because of the goalie at the other end. Shane Farkas – the reigning Canada West goaltender of the year – made a highlight-reel stop off a back-door one-timer from Kadyn Chabot with 1:24 left to preserve the win for the Cougars.
"It was a great save by their goalie – two fantastic goalies going at it," said MacEwan head coach Zack Dailey.
"Epp was really good tonight. He gave us a chance there at the end to at least get a point out of it. I don't think we deserved that, but any time your goalie can do that for you, you're in a really good spot. Really impressed with his play tonight. He definitely gave us a chance to win a hockey game."
Epp's best save came during a 4-on-3 MRU powerplay in the first period when he robbed Cougars' leading goal scorer Justin Lies on a one-timer.
"That's the job," said Epp of trying to hold the dam even when the seams are cracking. "That's job of a goalie, just trying to control what I can and make saves and just be me out there.
"I think we played well out there, just some bad bounces, some mishaps, but that's hockey, that's going to happen. I liked my game, I liked being able to give the guys a chance and that's all I can really do as a goalie."
Brett Epp stretches across to rob @MRUmhockey leading goal scorer Justin Lies on a 4-on-3 one-timer - one of his 16 saves in the first period. It's tied 1-1 after 20 minutes.#griffnation @MacEwanGriffins pic.twitter.com/gZNS1o5UeQ
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) January 19, 2025
With the result, the Cougars, who look like a national championship contender, improve to 17-5-0, bolstering their chances of getting the top seed in the conference's West Division. MacEwan falls to 8-10-2, but is still comfortably in a playoff position, third in the East.
After repelling a wave of early MRU pressure, the Griffins opened the scoring 8:31 into the first period when Marc Pasemko swept around the net and hit Ethan Sundar streaking into the slot alone and he had time to snipe it above Farkas' glove for his fourth of the season.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) January 19, 2025
Taking a slick pass from Marc Pasemko, Ethan Sundar goes top glove side to open the scoring for @MacEwanGriffins midway through the first period vs. @MRUmhockey.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/SRwHijlSPp
"Sundar's someone who has impressed us all season and he's been getting better and better," said Dailey of the rookie Spruce Grove Saints product. "His offensive creativity is elite and next level. So, I was happy to see him get rewarded. He's someone who drives our offence and has done a great job of being offensively good for us even as a first year."
After Epp stopped Lies three times late in the first period, the MRU sniper finally beat him to tie the score on sharp angle powerplay back-door one-timer from the Draisaitl spot off a sweet pass from reigning Canada West player of the year Connor Bouchard.
Lies scored again for the Cougars late in the second period – also on the powerplay – when he labelled a point shot for the top corner that Epp didn't even see behind a screen of at least two players.
Breakaway chance snuffed out by Brett Epp - one of his 29 saves through two periods. @GriffinsMHKY trails @MRUmhockey 2-1. Shots are 31-15 for the visitors.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/caUgqZ4YVI
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) January 19, 2025
Still, despite being outshot 33-15 in the opening 40 minutes, the Griffins entered the third with a chip and a chair.
"I challenged our guys at the end of the second period, 'listen, this is not our best, but we have a chance to win a hockey game,' " said Dailey. "So, what I liked about our group is we didn't fold. We continued to push, we had chances at the end of the game to tie it. That's a step that we're taking that maybe wasn't there in the past, so that was good to see."
Epp was pulled with three minutes left for an extra attacker and the Griffins got plenty of zone time, but their best chance by Chabot will go on Farkas' highlight reel.
"It was a great look," said Epp. "It was great movement by the boys to really battle at the end there. It was a great save, too. You have to tip your cap. He bailed his team out at the end."
The Griffins will next travel to Manitoba for a pair of games against the Bisons Jan. 24-25.
