VICTORIA - The UBC Thunderbirds kept it close in a wild 14-goal game against the ECHL's Victoria Salmon Kings from the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. But the 'Birds couldn't capitalize on a late power play, losing 8-6 on the road.
Victoria forward Ryan Dingle opened the scoring just 13 seconds in for what would be the first of his three goals on the night. Things settled down from there with the two squads exchanging goals before the end of the first period.
In the second period, T-Birds forward
Marc Desloges scored an equalizer to give UBC some momentum. Desloges would finish the night with two assists in addition to the goal, and was named the game's third star.
UBC took the lead on the first of
Scott Wasden's two goals nearing the mid-point of the game, but proceeded to give up four unanswered goals to fall behind by three.
However, Milan Dragicevic's squad wasn't ready to throw in the towel. The Blue and Gold got themselves back to within one on a pair of power play goals from Wasden and
Tyler Ruel.
The Salmon Kings again took a two-goal lead, but UBC forward
Wyatt Hamilton pulled the trigger to get the 'Birds back within a goal of tying the game.
In the game's final minute, Victoria took a crucial penalty, giving UBC a power play with 52 seconds left on the clock. The T-Birds pulled goalie
Jordan White for a two-man advantage, but Dingle would complete the hat trick ten seconds later, effectively ending UBC's night.
White made 31 saves in the loss. Defenceman
Ryan Kakoske had a goal and an assist, while veterans
Justin McCrae and Max Gordichuck also recorded multi-point nights - each had a pair of helpers.
UBC has a score to settle when the teams go back at it on Saturday in Victoria. That will be the final game of the Thunderbirds' pre-season. UBC opens up its CIS campaign on October 15 versus the University of Alberta at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
