Denver, CO - The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team played to a 2-2 tie against the number eight ranked team in US college hockey, the University of Denver Pioneers, Friday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Goaltender
Steven Stanford (Calgary, AB) made 45 saves to help the Thunderbirds come away with a tie.
The hometown Pioneers led 1-0 after 20 minutes and 2-0, just under two minutes into the second period. Rookie
Jessi Hilton (Sherwood Park, AB) got the Thunderbirds on the board 9:57 into the second frame to get UBC within one. That is how things would stand after 40 minutes.
In the third period,
Brad Hoban (Victoria, BC) scored the equalizer with just under five minutes left in regulation time to send the game to overtime. Neither team was able to score in extra time and there was no shootout so they had to settle for a tie.
Denver outshot the Thunderbirds 47-29. Stanford, making his first start of the season, was outstanding, stopping 45 shots, including 17 in the third period and another four in overtime.
Ben Schmidt (Campbell River, BC) chipped in with a pair of assists. Both teams finished the night 0-for-4 on the power play.
"This was a great test for our team and we showed a lot of character to come back and earn a tie," said head coach Milan Dragicevic. "Despite getting down early our guys never let it bother them and were able to rally. It doesn't hurt that we got an outstanding effort from Stanford and a couple of big goals from two rookies."
UBC continues it three game exhibition tour through Colorado tomorrow against Colorado College at 5:00 pm PST and then Monday evening versus the Air Force Academy at 5:00 pm PST.
