The University of British Columbia Athletics

This weekend the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team heads to Winnipeg to take on the University of Manitoba Bisons for a pair of games. The 'Birds will be battling to keep their seven-game winning streak alive and defend the top spot in the Canada West.
 
Not only is this a big weekend for the squad to hold down the fort at the top of the conference, but Tatiana Rafter, who leads the Canada West in both goals (10) and points (17), will be playing in her hometown with her family in the stands.
 
"Myself and Cailey Hay are both from Winnipeg, so it will be fun to play against some of the girls we played with at Balmoral Hall School," said Rafter. "The last time we played Manitoba was here (at home) and we beat them to knock them out of playoffs, so there is going to be a lot of fuel to the fire."
 
"I love the little chirps I get. It fires me up."
 
The Bisons have established a 7-4-1 record, while the T-Birds have been on fire at 9-2-1.
 
So far this season, Rafter is proud of her team's progress and is very positive about their direction.
 
"Our main strength is that we have bought into the systems and mentality our coaches want. Everyone's contributing so much, not just a few people – it's everyone chipping in that game-winning goal or something that we need. That is a big component of a championship-winning team."
 
And indeed the team is looking incredibly promising already. This is the first time in the program's history that the T-Birds have established a multiple-point lead in front of the rest of the conference.
 
"The challenge for us now will be to not sit back and be content, but to push harder and try to widen that gap even more to help us out come playoffs."
 
Manitoba is not to be ruled out, as Rafter acknowledged.
 
"They're always very disciplined in their systems but I think that we'll be well prepared."
 
In addition to her impressive season thus far, this year Tatiana has achieved yet another accolade.
 
Back in September over the phone, coach Graham Thomas caught Tatiana amidst a frantic rush to class to inform her that she had been selected to the squad representing Canada at the International University Sports Federation Winter Universiade in Trentino, Italy next month.
 
"[Graham] told me that I would want to sit down, so I sat at the fountain at Main Mall and University. He broke the news, and I just burst into tears with students walking right by me."
 
As an experienced and evidently talented hockey player, Rafter expressed that she had few nerves leading up to the event that starts December 11th, and that she was more excited than anything.
 
In years past only one player from the UBC women's hockey program had been selected for the team, while this time around both Rafter and Thunderbirds team captain Christi Capozzi will be competing.
 
Commenting on team head coach Graham Thomas, Tatiana spoke wonders about their leader.
 
"He's an amazing person, everyone sees that. His personal life really seems to translate into the locker room and I think that's why he's such a great coach. He's so honest and open about everything. You can really trust him because this is his life, and we are his family away from home."
 
Tatiana also expressed her admiration of Pavel Datsyuk, with whom she shares the number 13. Recently he and the Detroit Red Wings – her favourite NHL team – were practicing on campus, and she got the lucky opportunity to grab a photo with her idol.
 
In the future Rafter aspires to pursue criminal law after completing her undergraduate degree in 2015.
 
Asked about her pregame meal, Rafter said quinoa, fruit smoothies, and yams – her obsession – were her go-to foods.
 
As to her preference between Gatorade and Powerade, "definitely Gatorade; the Sidney Crosby blue."
 
Quinoa, yams, and blue Gatorade – the recipe for success.
 
Game times this weekend are 5:00 pm PST on Friday and 4:00 pm PST on Saturday in Winnipeg.