VANCOUVER -
Jordan White played the hero, making 30 saves to lead the UBC Thunderbirds to a 2-1 shootout win and sweep of the Regina Cougars. The Blue and Gold took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but the visitors drew even on a four-minute power play to force extra time. In the shootout, UBC forward
Brennan Sonne was the lone goal-scorer, giving the T-Birds an emotional win and extend their winning streak to three games.
“If you would have told us at the start of the weekend that we're getting four points, it doesn't matter how we're getting it at this stage, we'll take it,” said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. “Our power play didn't score tonight, and the biggest thing tonight was we had so many golden opportunities and we didn't hit the net. But we're finding ways to win games. We're on a little bit of a winning streak, we're two games above .500, these are positive things that we're going to take into next weekend. And we still have a lot of work to do. ”
Offensively, Sonne was a force for the Thunderbirds. His move in the shootout – a fake and a deke before sliding the puck fivehole – made him the only shooter to score. Additionally, It was his shot from above the left face off circle that beat Cougars goalie Adam Ward high to make it 1-0 in the first period.
That score would stand up through most of the game despite a fiercely determined Cougars squad. Regina came out hard, grinding away at the 'Birds with pressure on the net and some big hits that had UBC heads on a swivel.
“I give Regina a lot of credit. They played really hard tonight,” said Dragicevic. “They were physical, they were first on the pucks, and they played a very strong game tonight. I give them full credit for taking us to the limit. They got us back on our heels tonight.”
But the hero for UBC was White. White made big saves in every period to keep his team in the lead. Early in the game, White came across the crease doing the splits to make the most remarkable save of the weekend, and to keep the Cougars off the board. White was also crucial in limiting what Regina could do with some key power play time in the final frame.
White's biggest stops, however, came in the shootout, when he stumped all three Regina shooters.
White has had a whirlwind three days after dressing for the San Jose Sharks in their game versus the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, and then starting back-to-back Friday and Saturday versus Regina.
“I thought Whitey was huge tonight, not only in the shootout, but he kept us in there when we had to kill some penalties at the end,” commented Dragicevic. “All weekend, for a guy to be the Vancouver media darling for 24 hours, and how he approached each game and prepared, it's a real credit to
Jordan White. He was the difference. It's great to see Jordan step up, be a team leader, carry the team on his back, and get us two points tonight.”
The win tonight ties the 'Birds with Saskatchewan for fourth place in Canada West.
The Thunderbirds are back in action next weekend when they head to Lethbridge to take on the Pronghorns.
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