Files from U of C Sports Information
CALGARY – Determined to avenge their lopsided Friday loss, the UBC Thunderbirds used terrific offensive zone pressure and timely production from their captain
Matthew Schneider to pick up a key 5-3 victory over the host Calgary Dinos.
After being outplayed for the majority of Friday's tilt, UBC came out absolutely firing on Saturday evening, working Calgary goaltender Dustin Butler for 15 shots in the opening frame alone, compared to only three for the Dinos. The shot differential in the first was due in large part to a strong forecheck from the Thunderbirds, who strayed away from their trapping style displayed on Friday.
Schneider scored twice for the 'Birds - his first two goals of the season - to go along with two assists in a great night for the senior. Due in large part to their captain, the Birds managed to keep relative pace with the Dinos in the conference standings, splitting the weekend series and staying only two points back of third place.
His first goal came with three minutes left in the first as
Marc Desloges' hard shot went off of a Dino in front of Butler only to land directly onto his stick, which the Vernon, B.C. native slipped in to a wide open left side of the net to make it 2-0. Desloges took credit for the first goal of the game as well, one-timing a cross-ice feed from Schneider on a two-on-one situation after a Calgary turnover.
After Reid Jorgensen opened the second period with a rocket over the shoulder of
Jordan White after a sprint down the right side of the ice, Schneider then found himself unaccounted for in front of Butler yet again.
Brandon Campos recognized the Calgary error, quickly passing it across Butler's crease for the easy tap in for Schneider for his second goal of the night and a 3-1 UBC lead.
Later in the second period, after Campos slipped trying to keep the puck in the offensive zone on yet another Thunderbird powerplay, Walker Wintoneak saw opportunity and took it to the house on a breakaway, cutting the Calgary deficit to just one goal with a teammate still in the penalty box
However any momentum that Wintoneak created with the shorthanded goal was quickly eliminated in the third, as the Thunderbirds scored only 16 seconds into the final period. On another Schneider shot from the right faceoff circle,
Tyler Ruel tipped it down between the legs of Butler to make it 4-2, which would eventually count as the winning goal. UBC would take a three-goal lead for a portion of the third period, as Campos redirected a cross from the corner from
Max Grassi to make it 5-2.
Wintoneak would get his second goal of the game on a five-on-three situation with just two minutes left in the game, banging in an initial shot and rebound from Cory Pritz, but Calgary would get nothing more. With two more goals, Wintoneak makes it seven points in just the first three games of his CIS career.
UBC (7-7-4) heads back to Vancouver to prepare for the visiting Regina Cougars next weekend, while Calgary (9-6-2) takes part in a home-and-home series against the Alberta Golden Bears.
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