Vancouver, BC - After picking three of a possible four points against the Saskatchewan Huskies last week, the UBC Thunderbirds (12-7-3) men's hockey team returns home for a weekend series versus the Mount Royal Cougars (4-17-1).
With six games remaining in their regular season schedule, the 'Birds are in the midst of a dogfight for playoff positioning. Only three points separate second from fifth place in the Canada West conference. Currently Saskatchewan and Manitoba are tied with 30 points, Calgary is in fourth with 28 points, and UBC rounds out the group in fifth with 27 points. Alberta is six points clear in first place. The Thunderbirds still have their sights set on a top four finish and a home playoff date. The top two teams after the regular season get a bye into the semi-finals, while the third and fourth place teams will host the quarter-finals.
UBC's schedule the rest of the way has them hosting Mount Royal this weekend, a crucial series in Manitoba the following weekend, and they wrapping up on home ice against the top team in the nation, Alberta.
After a midseason slump, the 'Birds have righted the ship. UBC has won three of their last four games and proven they can play with the best teams in the country, picking up a win and losing in a shootout to fifth ranked Saskatchewan last week. It's no coincidence that the 'Birds top guns are firing on all cyclinders offensively.
Max Grassi (North Vancouver, BC),
Brad Hoban (Victoria, BC), and
Cole Wilson (White Rock, BC) are all riding four game point streaks heading into the weekend. Grassi, ninth in the league in scoring, has two goals and five assists over the last four games. Hoban, the Canada West leader in rookie scoring, has four goals and four assists in his last four contests and Wilson, the 'Birds leading goal scorer, has four goals and an assist over the same period of time.
In their first season in the CIS, Mount Royal has found out just how tough the competition is in the Canada West. The Cougars have already been eliminated from the playoffs and have lost seven straight games coming into the weekend. However, they have played teams hard all year, including UBC. The Thunderbirds beat them 7-2 and 3-2 back in early November. The Cougars are led by Eric Galbraith, who is 15th in league scoring with 13 goals and seven assists. Mount Royal has managed just one win in 10 road games so far this year.
Both games this weekend will be played at Father David Bauer Arena. On Friday puck drop is at 7:00 pm, while Saturday the game starts at 2:30 pm in the afternoon.
Saturday's game will mark the seventh annual Noonar game. Named after former UBC athletic director and long time head of the UBC hockey alumni association, Rick Noonan, the event is the opportunity for the current team to honour past alumni. This year, Fred Masuch will be recognized. Masuch is a former Thunderbirds goaltender, who backstopped the program during their hay day in the early 1970's. He was a Canada West All-Star in 1973 and part of UBC's last Canada West hockey championship team in 1971. Following his playing career Fred, along with his wife Marg were active members in the alumni. Masuch also went on to become head coach of the Thunderbirds from 1984--86.
All alumni are encouraged to come out and join the festivities.
