The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER - Playing in double over time for the second time in three games, the UBC Thunderbirds took down the Mount Royal Cougars 3-2 in Canada West men's hockey action on Friday evening in Vancouver. The Thunderbirds have now collected five of a possible six points over its previous three games including its first back-to-back wins of the season.
 
BOX SCORE

Cole Wilson added two goals, his fourth and fifth of the year, including the game-winner while Scott MacDonald had the third Thunderbird tally of the night. Devin Gannon and Derek Huisman were the goal scorers for the Cougars.
 
With two consecutive victories, the Thunderbirds overtake Manitoba while sitting in a tie with Mount Royal for fifth in the Canada West. Both teams now sport a 3-5-1 record and sit 11 points back of first-place teams, Alberta and Calgary. 
 
"That's a good team we're playing," said UBC head coach Milan Dragicevic. "When you can score two power play goals and your penalty kill goes 100 percent, that's huge for team morale and confidence."
 
The Thunderbirds were the first to strike as Wilson converted on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle after a cross-ice feed from Brad Hoban. The goal at 5:27 of the first was the only power play goal the Thunderbirds could muster in the opening period despite having five opportunities on the man-advantage.
 
The Cougars' Gannon evened the game up at one just shy of the halfway point in the first period with his second of the season. UBC goaltender Matt Hewitt made the initial save but was unable to corral the rebound as Gannon went to his backhand putting it top shelf.
 
After a flurry of power-play chances, MacDonald was able to convert on a loose puck out front beating Dalyn Flette for his third of the season, coming on even-strength. Anthony Bardaro and Brendon Wall collected the helpers as the Thunderbirds regained its one-goal advantage entering the second frame. 
 
Despite UBC controlling much of the second period and peppering Flette with scoring chances, it was Mount Royal that would get the only goal in the second. With two minutes remaining in the period, rookie forward Huisman snuck one past Hewitt from a sharp angle for his first career CIS goal.
 
A scoreless third sent the game to the first overtime, which solved nothing. It wasn't until 47 seconds into the second overtime frame that the game was decided.  Wilson potted his second of the game to seal the victory for the Thunderbirds on almost an identical play as his first goal, converting on the one-timer feed from Nate Fleming. Bardaro also had an assist on the play improving his season points total to 11, in a tie with Wilson for tops on the team.  
 
UBC finished 2-for-8 on the man advantage while Mount Royal failed to convert on its six power-play opportunities, being shut down by the Thunderbirds penalty kill.
 
"I thought our power play moved the puck very well in the first two periods," said Dragicevic. "There were two positives tonight: the fact that we scored two power play goals and killed off all six penalties."
 
Hewitt finished with 17 saves while Mount Royal's Flette finished with 31 saves.
 
Dragicevic feels the team must be better moving forward, as the typically disciplined Thunderbirds took six penalties Friday night.
 
"We're not playing 60 minutes, we took a lot of bad penalties tonight and have to be better even though we've picked up five of the last six possible points."
 
The Thunderbirds close out its weekend series against the Cougars Saturday afternoon with puck drop set for 2 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Expect Hewitt to get his second start in as many games after a strong showing Friday night.
 
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