Regina, SASK – The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey squad stormed out of the gate Friday night putting up three goals in the first period, which proved to be the difference in a 4-2 victory against the Regina Cougars.
Cole Wilson scored twice while
Wes Vannieuwenhuizen collected his first career CIS point as the Thunderbirds improve to 6-10-1 on the year and are victors of three straight regular season games.
The Thunderbirds have had little trouble this season getting the game's first tally and Friday night was no different as UBC struck first for the ninth time in the team's 17 games. Five minutes in, second-year forward
Dillon Wagner potted his first of the campaign after pouncing on a loose puck in front of the Cougars' net. Breaking a 17 game scoreless drought was former Vancouver Giants captain Vannieuwenhuizen, who was credited with an assist on the play, which marks his first career CIS point.
The lead was short-lived as Regina's leading scorer Cody Fowlie added to his season total putting away his fifth goal of the year, good enough for a three-way tie for second in the Canada West rookie-scoring race. The former Kelowna Rocket tucked one between
Steven Stanford's legs after a bouncing puck made its way to the front of the UBC crease.
UBC was the recipient of a fortunate bounce after the Cougars' controlled much of the play midway through the first as one of Regina's defender blew a tire in the offensive zone that led to a Thunderbirds two-on-one. UBC's most prolific scorer this season,
Cole Wilson, went forehand to backhand and put one top-shelf over Andrew Hayes for his eighth goal of the season.
UBC would enter the first intermission with a two-goal advantage as captain
Ben Schmidt tipped in an
Anthony Bardaro shot from the point, giving the Thunderbirds a cushion after 20 minutes of play.
The second period didn't start the way the T-birds envisioned as Regina got on the board three minutes in, cutting the deficit to one courtesy Troy Hunter, as he was able to jam one in from the side of the net. Fowlie was credited with the assist and has had the Thunderbirds number this year with five points in three games against UBC.
The Thunderbirds iced the game in the latter stages of the third period as Wilson added his second on the night, and ninth of the year, clinching the team's third consecutive regular season victory, dating back to late November.
Joe Antilla assisted on both of Wilson's markers giving him a multi-point night. Coupled with a pair of exhibition victories over the December break, UBC has won five straight.
Stanford collected the victory for UBC after making 27 saves on the night as UBC improves to 6-10-1 on the season. Hayes, fresh off becoming the all time leader in shutouts for Regina last weekend, was assessed the loss after making 21 saves on 25 shots against UBC. The Cougars' record stands at 9-10-1 after Friday night's loss.
Vannieuwenhuizen left the game midway through the second after going down with an apparent lower-body injury, favoring his right side as he exited to the locker room. Also on the injury front is Regina captain Craig Cuthbert, who missed Friday's game and will be out for an extended period of time after suffering a broken arm versus the Lethbridge Pronghorns last weekend.
A 5 p.m. game wraps up the weekend series tomorrow night. Catch the action
here.
