VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (5-10-1) find themselves eight points out of the final playoff spot in the Canada West and will need a big second half in order to reach to the post-season in the league's new slimmed down four team format.
In order to get ready for the second half of their CW season, the T-Birds are hosting the no. 5 ranked McGill Redmen (12-2-0) in what should prove to be a very stiff test. The T-Birds will take on the Redmen on Saturday, January 2 (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, January 3 (2:30 p.m.) at Father Bauer Arena.
The last time McGill and UBC played in BC was at the Valor Cup in Vancouver over the winter break during the 1998-99 season. The T-Birds beat the Redmen 5-2 in that meeting. A similar result this weekend will require a big effort from the host T-Birds.
A look at the Thunderbirds
After a promising 3-0-1 start, the T-Birds struggled with their consistency, as well as luck and health, and are just 2-10-0 since. The T-Birds did split two of their final three weekends of the first half despite being severely short staffed due to injuries and illness. In their weekend finale against the Dinos, the T-Birds had just four healthy defenceman in the lineup and were without starting goalie
Francois Thuot. Following a four week break, however,UBC should be closer to full strength during this weekend's exhibition series.
Tyler Ruel picked up a hat trick in UBC's 5-2 victory over Calgary and tallied five points over the T-Birds final weekend of CW action of 2009 with four goals and one assists. The third year forward, who was named the CW Athlete of the Week for his efforts, now leads the T-Birds with 14 points (five goals, nine assists). Linemates
Matthew Schneider and
Jeff Lynch also had big weekends and they both have 10 points on the season.
Justin McCrae (11 points) still leads the T-Birds with seven goals and his partner in crime,
Brandon Campos, ranks second on the team with 12 points.
Rookie
Jordan White earned both starts to close the 2009 portion of the season against Calgary with Thuot out and in eight appearances this year he is 2-2 with a 4.08 GAA and 0.866 save percentage.
A look at the Redmen
Founded in 1877, McGill is the oldest operating hockey team in the world and is in its 134th season. The Redmen have made three trips to the CIS Nationals in the past four seasons and with a 12-2 second-place record in the OUA East, are a good bet to return this season.
Guided by first-year head coach Jim Webster, they are currently ranked No.5 in the CIS Top 10 and have only been beaten twice in league play, both times on the road (8-4 at Laurier and 4-3 at Toronto). The Redmen are the highest scoring team in the nation, with an average of 6.36 goals per game. They also own the seventh-best defensive record in the CIS with a 2.57 goals-against average.
Sophomore centre Francis Verreault-Paul leads the CIS with 15 goals and sits third in the OUA scoring race with 15-13-28 in only 13 games. Sophomore Alexandre Picard-Hooper has 26 points in 14 contests and is second among CIS assist leaders with 20.
The Redmen have 15 goals from their blueliners, led by senior Yan Turcotte, who ranks third among CIS rearguards with six markers. Also, sophomore Marc-Andre Dorion has the third-highest points total among CIS defenceman with 4-16-20 in 14 games.
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