Air Force Academy, CO - The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team finished up their three game exhibition tour of Colorado with a 4-2 win over the Air Force Academy Falcons.
Scott MacDonald (Surrey, BC) and
Joe Antilla (Madeira Park, BC) each had a goal and an assist in the victory.
Playing their third game in as many nights the Thunderbirds got off to a sluggish start, but were able to hold the fort and keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes. The Air Force Academy outshot UBC 12-4 in the opening frame, but
Jordan White (Surrey, BC) was up to the task stopping every shot he faced.
UBC opened the scoring 3:56 into the second period courtesy of
Joe Antilla. The Thunderbirds would add to the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the period as
Dustin Kimber (Lundar, MB) scored an unassisted goal. However, the Falcons would score a power play goal before the period was out to cut the lead to 2-1. That is how things would stand after 40 minutes.
The score remained 2-1 until the final minute of the game when
Max Grassi (North Vancouver, BC) scored on a solo effort to make it 3-1 for the Thunderbirds. The Air Force Academy would score 29 seconds later to once again, cut the lead to just one goal, but
Scott MacDonald would add an insurance marker with just seven seconds remaining to make it a 4-2 final.
The final shots were 31-26 in favour of the Falcons. White stopped 19 of 20 shots he faced in 30 minutes of action.
Kraymer Barnstable (Kelowna, BC) played the final 30 minutes and allowed two goals on nine shots.
UBC went 0-for-4 on the man advantage, while the Falcons finished 1-for-6.
It was a successful road trip for UBC in Colorado as they finished the three game tour with one win (defeated Air Force 4-2), one tie (tied University of Denver 2-2), and one loss (lost 3-1 to Colorado College).
The Thunderbirds return home for a couple of days of practice before continuing the Canada West regular season next Friday and Saturday in Calgary with a pair of games versus the Dinos. Calgary eliminated the Thunderbirds from the post season last season in game three of a best of three series.
