Regina, Saskatchewan - The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team dropped the puck on the 2012-13 Canada West regular season tonight in Regina, defeating the Cougars 4-3.
Max Grassi (North Vancouver, BC) scored the game winner 1:22 into the third period. Last year's leading scorer also chipped in with a pair of assists in the victory.
Click here for box score.
Things did not start well for the Thunderbirds as they trailed 2-0, 5:49 into the opening period. Craig Cuthbert and Tyler Murray scored 48 seconds apart for the Cougars. UBC would rally as rookie
Brad Hoban (Victoria, BC) got UBC on the board with a power play marker. The former Swift Current Bronco clearly feeling at home in the province in played in for five seasons, scored his first career CIS goal on a set up from Grassi. The Thunderbirds trailed 2-1 through 20 minutes of play.
UBC tied it up just 40 seconds into the second period on the power play as
Kevin Smith (North Vancouver, BC) potted his first ever CIS goal. Grassi and
Neil Manning (Nanaimo, BC) had the helpers to even the game at 2-2. The Thunderbirds took their first lead of the night later in the frame as
Scott Wasden (West Kelowna, BC) beat former Chilliwack Bruins' netminder Lucas Gore to put the Thunderbirds in front 3-2. That is how things would stand after two periods of play.
Regina wasted little time scoring the equalizer in the third period, 14 seconds into the frame, on the power play, Tyler Henry beat
Jordan White (Surrey, BC) to make it 3-3. However, UBC would respond, 68 seconds later, Grassi scored the game winner to give the Thunderbirds a 4-3 victory.
"We faced huge adversity tonight being down 2 0 early, but I like the fact that we stuck with it and came through with two power play goals," said head coach Milan Dragicevic. "We have to better in certain areas especially with our puck possession, but overall it was a good start to the season."
Grassi finished the night with three points and first star honours, while rookies Hoban, Smith, and Manning each had two points. White made 31 saves to earn the win in net.
Both teams went 1-for-5 on the power play on the night.
These two teams will do it all over again tomorrow night. Game time is 6:00 pm PST at The Co-operators Centre in Regina.
Scoring Summary
First Period
Regina Goal Cuthbert (1) 5:01
Regina Goal Murray (1) (King) 5:49
UBC Goal
Brad Hoban (1) (
Max Grassi,
Kevin Smith) 8:59 PP
Second Period
UBC Goal
Kevin Smith (1) (Grassi,
Neil Manning) :40 PP
UBC Goal
Scott Wasden (1) (
Joe Antilla) 4:46
Third Period
Regina Goal Henry (1) (Hunter, Dech) :14 PP
UBC Goal Grassi (1) (Hoban, Manning) 1:22
Shots - UBC 36 Regina 34
Power Play – UBC 2-5 Regina 1-5
3 Stars
1.
Max Grassi UBC
2.
Neil Manning UBC
3. Tyler Henry Regina
