VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds have clinched a Canada West playoff spot. It's official, for the first time in four seasons. And now the focus can turn to potentially hosting a playoff series for the first time ever.
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Even though the Lethbridge Prongorns were victorious and Mount Royal managed a point, the Thunderbirds stormed back to take a shootout victory and secure two points. They also assured themselves a place in the Canada West playoffs, stretching their lead over seventh-place Mount Royal to 11 points with just five games, and thus ten available points, left on the schedule.
“It's awesome,” said head coach
Graham Thomas. “I'm so pumped for the girls. They've worked so hard for it and wanted it so bad. To share that with them, we as coaches are really proud.”
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Mount Royal played the Thunderbirds tough in Calgary Friday night. The Cougars took a 1-0 first period lead on a goal from Sydeny Laurin and looked to be in control through most of the first two periods.
However, UBC came out strong in the third, sensing their opportunity to assure themselves a spot in the post-season. Halfway through the frame,
Tatiana Rafter (Winnipeg, MB) set up
Stephanie Schaupmeyer (Kelowna, BC) for the game-tying goal.
The Thunderbirds fired 12 shots in the third period to take the momentum back, and then held the Cougars shot-less in overtime. The extra frame solved nothing, and the teams headed to a shootout locked in a goaltending battle at 1-1. UBC's
Danielle Dube (Vancouver, BC) made 26 saves while Jess Ross of Mount Royal turned away 32 attempts.
In the shootout, both sides drew several blanks, with Rafter being the only player on either team to find the back of the net. Rafter made a shot fake to fool Ross and followed it with a wrist shot over her glove hand for the goal.
With the 1-0 shootout edge, UBC secured the 2-1 victory and the all-important two points.
“We really had to pull this one out and find a way to win,” said Thomas. “Mount Royal will be coming out hard tomorrow because they're still alive, too. And we're not complacent; we're motivated for tomorrow and to potentially move up the standings.”
Perhaps just as important for UBC was that Saskatchewan lost in regulation and Manitoba managed just a single point, providing the Thunderbirds with a six-point cushion in fourth place. The top four teams are afforded home-ice advantage for a playoff series, a goal that UBC has never achieved before.
UBC is also just three points back of second-place Regina, and a second place finish would give the team a first-round bye along with the chance to host a playoff series.
Mount Royal will continue their quest for a late playoff push on Saturday, as they host the Thunderbirds again at 1 p.m.
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