VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds defeated the Seibu Princess Rabbits 3-2 in a shootout during exhibition play at the Father Bauer Arena on Sunday afternoon. Seibu is a visiting Japanese women's pro team, making the trip across the Pacific for a Canadian tour.
Like the preceding 60 minutes of regulation time, the shootout was also closely contested. Each team scored on two of its first four attempts creating a sudden death situation in the fifth round.
UBC goaltender
Katie Schertzer did the splits to make a pad save on the Princes Rabbits final attempt, as Tsukasa Uchida raced in down the right wing and across the front of the net.
The T-Birds had the final shot of the day and
Tamara Pickford made good after losing the handle on the puck, regaining control and beating the Seibu netminder.
UBC head coach, Nancy Wilson, spoke about the close contest.
“I knew that Seibu would play a really solid defensive game,” said Wilson. “Angling is a big part of their game and they took away a lot of our passes through the middle of the ice, so we had to adapt as we went.”
The game was indeed a defensive battle through the first twenty minutes. Neither team found the back of the net until UBC's
Rayna Cruickshank opened the scoring in the second period.
Cruickshank came out of the penalty box to join the play in the defensive zone, and joined the rush up ice. She picked up a loose puck near the front of the net and scored on the backhand.
“The first period was feeling each other out a bit,” explained Wilson. “But the second and third, we were more aggressive on the puck than they were.”
Seibu tied the game on a power play goal from Uchida, who capitalized on a goal-mouth scramble.
The 'Birds were quick to respond.
Kaylee Chanakos regained the lead for UBC by putting the puck over the goal line during another battle in front of the net.
Seibu's Ami Nakamura tied the contest in the third period, forcing the shootout.
“It's not really much different than playing a CIS team,” commented Wilson of the level of competition. “They're deep and scrappy like other teams we play. Overall, I enjoyed the game, and we had fun playing today.”
The Thunderbirds are back on home ice next weekend for a pair of games versus Regina.
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