VANCOUVER – The eighth-ranked UBC Thunderbirds suffered their first regulation loss of the Canada West men's hockey season, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday night.
 
Lethbridge scored three third-period goals to earn the come-from-behind victory.
 
"We weren't sharp, we weren't good enough," said head coach Adam Shell, whose team falls to 6-1-2 with tonight's result. "They were good. Our forward group wasn't good. We were too loose. Not a good effort tonight from the coach down. 

"Our D was really good. Our goalie was really good, and the line Hamilton, Robinson, and Hilton built up some momentum in the third period getting us our second goal."
 
The opening period finished with UBC ahead 1-0. The 'Horns got the first scoring chance of the game at the four-minute mark as senior forward Cass Mappin broke in alone on the right wing but his low shot couldn't beat UBC goaltender Matt Hewitt (New Westminster, B.C.) on the short side. A minute later, the T-Birds got on the board first as second-year forward Manraj Hayer (Vancouver), whom Shell wasn't sure would play tonight due to injury, took a pass from Adam Rossignol (Surrey, B.C.) off a face-off, went wide left, and ripped a wrist-shot up high and over Tait's right shoulder.
 
Play evened out with neither team generating much offense in the second period. Shots were 10-10 in the middle frame and both the Pronghorns and Thunderbirds failed to capitalize on a pair of power play opportunities.
 
Late in the period, Sward had a glorious chance with Hewitt sprawled in front of the net but his shot sailed past the goalie and rang off the post to keep the 'Horns off the scoreboard.
 
The 'Horns dictated the pace early in the third period as Mappin had another scoring chance in close in the opening minute but was turned aside by Hewitt.
 
The continued pressure paid off as rookie defenceman Tyler Hansen potted his first career goal at the four-minute mark of the final frame. Less than a minute later Brandon Clowes buried his fourth of the season to put the Pronghorns up 2-1.
 
A quick timeout gave the T-Birds a chance to regroup and put the play back into the 'Horns end. A nice cycle behind the net by T-Bird forwards Joel Hamilton (Cochrane, Alta.) and Jessi Hilton (Sherwood Park, Alta.) resulted in a Hilton wrap-around goal that slid behind Tait to tie the game 2-2.
 
With less than three minutes remaining in the game the 'Horns won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Zane Jones blasted a shot from the point that was deflected neatly by Mitchell Maxwell to give the Pronghorns a 3-2 lead.
 
UBC pulled their goalie with 1:30 left but could not get set-up inside the 'Horns end to take advantage of the extra attacker and the Pronghorns held on for the win.
 
Shell laid the responsibility for tonight's loss on his own shoulders first.

"I have to do a better job. I have to be better. We need more energy from the players. A little more meat and potatoes, less fancy stuff. Tonight we didn't deserve to win. We'll be better tomorrow."
 
The Thunderbirds and Pronghorns will meet again in Lethbridge on Sunday afternoon, with the puck drop slated for 12 noon PT.

- with files from Robb Engen (Lethbridge Sports Information)