The University of British Columbia Athletics

Winnipeg, MB – In a thrilling close to the Canada West regular season, UBC fell short in their final regular season game losing 2-0 to the Manitoba Bisons, who clinched fourth place with the victory. Adam Lewadniuk scored midway through the second while Jordan DePape added an empty netter while Joe Caligiuri set aside 28 saves for his third shutout of the season. Despite the loss, the Thunderbirds sneak into the Canada West playoffs thanks to a Regina 4-1 loss to Saskatchewan tonight. They finish in a tie for points but UBC prevails via a tiebreaker.
 
Both goaltenders were solid for their respective teams stopping every puck shot their way in a scoreless first period. Steven Stanford got his third consecutive start for the Thunderbirds and stopped nine while Manitoba's Caligiuri faced 10 shots in the opening frame.
 
The momentum swung to the home team early in the second as the Bisons got on the board 35 seconds into the frame courtesy of former Brandon Wheat Kings forward Lewadniuk. The assists went to Ian Duval and Jesse Paradis on Lewadniuk's team-leading 14th goal of the season. The Bisons would hold the one-goal lead through the remainder of the period and enter the third with its one goal advantage.
 
The Thunderbirds would outshoot their opponents 12-11 in the final frame but would fall short in their comeback and suffer their third shutout loss this season. DePape added an empty-netter with 15 seconds to play to secure the win for the Bisons who finish the season with a 12-12-4 record. Luke Paulsen and Taylor Dickin added helpers on DePape's 10th goal to cap off his rookie season.
 
Stanford would save 29 on the night but thanks to a lack of offense, was stuck with the defeat, as his regular season ends with a 7-5-2 record. UBC finishes its regular season with an 11-15-2 record. 
 
Caligiuri stopped all 28 shots he faced to collect the shutout as the veteran finishes the season tied for first in shutouts, third in minutes played, and second in saves in the Canada West division.

The Thunderbirds and Regina Cougars finished tied for sixth place with 24 points on the season, however UBC would get the final playoff spot because they won the tiebreaker against the Cougars. In head to head competition UBC was 3-1 against Regina. The Cougars faltered down the stretch managing to win just two of their final 11 games.
 
UBC will face third-place and No. 9 ranked Saskatchewan in the first round of the Canada West playoffs, set for next weekend in Saskatoon. UBC finished 1-3 versus the Huskies in the regular season. Meanwhile, both Alberta and Calgary clinched the first and second spots in the Canada West securing a bye in the opening round of the Canada West playoffs.
 
At season's end, Cole Wilson was the top Thunderbird scorer with a career-high 18 goals, and 17 assists while Neil Manning was the team's top defensive scorer, with 21 points this season.
 
UBC had a strong latter half of the season after a rough start to the season and made a strong and successful playoff push collecting points in four of its final six games going 3-2-1 over the span.