VANCOUVER – The No. 10 UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team defeated the Manitoba Bisons 4-2 in Winnipeg Saturday evening, rebounding from their first loss, an overtime defeat of the season last weekend.
 
The triumph ups the team's league record to 4-0-1, tied for second in the Canada West conference standings.
 
The Thunderbirds did everything right in their victory over the Bisons. Jumping out to take the lead within the first five minutes and scoring early every period made for a high-tempo game that was difficult for Manitoba to match, especially with contributions coming from both rookies and veterans on the Thunderbirds roster. UBC also scored on the power play, taking advantage of the one man-up opportunity they had.
 
UBC's leading scorer, third-year forward Anthony Bardaro (Delta, B.C.) was first to light the lamp, 5:08 after puck drop, scooping up rookie Austin Vetterl's (Abbotsford, B.C.) rebound to pot his third goal of the season. Another rookie, Chase Clayton (Abbotsford, B.C.) earned the second helper.
 
With the tally, Bardaro is now tied for second place in points in the Canada West with eight
 
The 'Birds didn't slow up in the second, netting two more goals before the final frame. Fourth-year player Scott MacDonald (Surrey, B.C.), earned his title as first star of the game by scoring both. Running out of the gate, he and third-year forward Luke Lockhart (Burnaby, B.C.) forced an odd-man rush on Bisons goaltender Byron Spriggs, who turned away and impressive 21 shots in total, but MacDonald's first goal was not one of them, as the puck slipped five-hole.
 
The Bisons rallied, answering back at 8:29 as Liam Bilton lifted the puck over second-year Eric Williams' (Langley, B.C.) head for their first of two tallies. Williams was near impenetrable in net, stopping 29 of 31 shots on goal.
 
MacDonald and the Thunderbirds' regained momentum merely four minutes later, however, when on the man-advantage they netted their third of the night off a high, right wrist shot.
 
UBC opened the third with their final goal of the game at 3:08. Rookie defenceman Kyle Becker (Langley, B.C.) corralled a Nick Buonassisi (Coquitlam, B.C.) rebound in for his first career CIS goal. The Thunderbirds' special teams were then tested when they were faced with a 5-on-3 midway through the period. Playing two men down for over a minute, the 'Birds were able to keep the Bisons at bay.
 
Manitoba fought back late into the period, scoring their final goal and bringing their team within two at 9:06, but were unable to mount a comeback.
 
The teams' play again is set for tomorrow at 11 a.m. (PT).