VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team returns home for a weekend series matchup against the Manitoba Bisons. Hoping to continue their strong start to the season, the 'Birds look to add to their current four-game winning streak with a pair of victories at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
 
Last time the Bisons were in town, UBC fell 2-1 in Game 3 of the Canada West semifinals and was eliminated from the postseason. Head coach Graham Thomas views the end of last season as part of the motivation to win this weekend, but knows it cannot be the team's main focus.
 
"I think that's obviously going to be on our minds, but it can't be our focus," he said, previewing the series. "It's a new season and we have a different team and they have a different team and we need to prepare for them and continue to work on the things that have given us success here in the last four games."
 
The Thunderbirds have been working as a complete team to secure their wins, a strength Thomas praises. Last weekend, their 4-0 and 4-1 defeats of the Calgary Dinos were made possible by three goals from third-year Kathleen Cahoon (Calgary) – now second on the team in scoring – a pair from fourth-year Nicole Saxvik (North Vancouver), and individual contributions from fellow fourth-years Stephanie Schaupmeyer (Kelowna, B.C.) and Katie Zinn (Coquitlam, B.C.) as well as fifth-year senior Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, Sask.). Unrau is currently second in scoring in the Canada West with five goals and three assists.
 
"Individuals have stepped up, but honestly, our strength right now is our entire team effort and that we're getting contributions and people chipping in from all down and defensively, from our PK to our roll players. It's our team buy-in right now that's giving us our success."
 
One of the challenges for UBC will be how to holster the Bisons' aggressive fore-check. Returning CIS Rookie of the Year Alanna Sharman, Manitoba's top scorer, is averaging a point a game with four goals and two assists on the season.
 
"I don't think their record is indicative of where they are or where they could be," Thomas cautioned. "And I don't think our girls will take them lightly at all. They're a really good team, they've got some high-end players so for us, we just need to be ready to play 60 minutes, our specialty teams need to be good, and we need to be mentally disciplined throughout the weekend."
 
"It's only been six games," Thomas offers. "There's a lot of hockey left. If we have a good weekend here – and there's a possibility of that – I think we could come out ranked in the top 10 and maybe in first place. Or if we don't have a good weekend, we're right back in the middle of the pack. It'll be a hard-fought series."
 
The first game of the series is slated for 7 p.m. (PT) Friday night, with a rematch set for 2 p.m. (PT) the following day.  Both games will be contested at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.