The Matchup
The UBC Thunderbirds (9-1-2-0) are fresh off a 10
th straight victory and begin a four-game road schedule to close out 2016 against the Mount Royal Cougars (4-6-0-2) Friday and Saturday, November 25
th and 26
th, in Calgary.
Sitting six points ahead of second place Saskatchewan in the Canada West standings, the top-ranked Thunderbirds will look to keep another streak alive as UBC has never lost a road game to the Cougars winning all eight previous games since Mount Royal entered conference play in the 2012-13 season.
Puck drop Friday is 6:00 p.m. PT at the Flames Community Arena with Saturday's rematch set for 2:00 p.m. PT.
Last Action
The Thunderbirds won a pair of tightly fought battles against the Regina Cougars at home last weekend coming away with a 4-1 victory Friday followed by a 3-2 win Saturday. UBC scored two third period power play goals Saturday including
Kathleen Cahoon's Canada West leading seventh of the season while
Amelia Boughn earned her sixth win in net.
The Cougars swept a home-and-home series with the Lethbridge Pronghorns winning consecutive games for the first time this season. Emma Pincott earned the win in goal for both with a .954 save percentage on the weekend.
By the Numbers
23 – UBC has a Canada West leading +23 goal differential while also scoring the most goals with 44
15 – The T-Birds have scored 15 power play goals, the most of any in the Canada West while also drawing the most power play opportunities
Players to Watch
Kathleen Cahoon (#74, F) – The fourth-year forward leads the Canada West in goals with seven and is coming off a four-point weekend earning her the conference's female first star of the week honour.
Mairead Bast (#4, D) – The first-year defenceman not only leads all Canada West blue liner scoring with nine points has the overall lead in power play goals with four.
Coach's Take
UBC head coach
Graham Thomas isn't taking his team's win streak for granted and insists they don't get complacent while continuing to keep their end goal in mind.
"We recognize every team is working extremely hard during the week and anyone can win on any given night," said Thomas. "We have to respect our opponent and respect the process."
Thomas would like to see the T-Birds' power play get a little more consistent, currently executing at 17.9 per cent.
"We have to focus on getting more traffic and pucks to the net and simplifying it a little bit."
Currently six points ahead of Saskatchewan and seven up on Manitoba and with those two teams playing each other this weekend, Thomas says there is a big opportunity for UBC to earn two more wins and widen the gap.
"We'd like to create some more separation and come closer to one of our goals and that's finishing in first place."
