VANCOUVER – It wasn't any old exhibition game at the Father Bauer Arena on Saturday evening. The UBC men's hockey team battled crosstown rivals Simon Fraser in a testy, scrum-filled Vancouver hockey derby and came away with a 3-1 victory.


 
Riley Guenther, Carter Popoff, and Chase Clayton all scored for the Thunderbirds, while Adam Rossingnol set up two of the UBC goals. Derek Dun was solid in the T-Bird net, stopping 27 of the 28 shots fired his way. Scott Patterson scored the lone marker for SFU.
 
Several Thunderbirds were making their debut in the 'Blue and Gold', including slick skating defenseman Joe Carvahlo.
 

It's game day! The #TBirds welcome the Clan to Father Bauer Arena, puck drop at 4:30! pic.twitter.com/xuGF2czYSn

— UBC Men's Hockey (@UBCMHKY) September 10, 2016

 
"I was a little nervous before the game, so it's always nice to get the first one out of the way," said Carvahlo.
 
The game was marked with several heavy hits and scrums after the whistle.


 
"I think these teams have a pretty good rivalry going," said first year T-Bird and former Prince George Spruce King star Jake Lebrun. "This is an annual thing so I think these teams have developed a good hate for one another. I kind of expected it."
 

In a very spirited Vancouver #hockeyderby @ubctbirds lead @SFUhockey 3-1 after two periods. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/FDiog4MKsy

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 11, 2016

 
"It's always fun to play these guys," said the Vancouver native Carvahlo. "I know a few guys on their team so it's always fun to battle them and then shake their hands afterwards. It definitely didn't feel like and exhibition game."
 
The win for the Thunderbirds runs the UBC winning streak over SFU to eight games dating back to 2012. UBC will continue their exhibition schedule next weekend, when they welcome the Alberta Golden Bears to the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Centre for games on Friday and Saturday night.