WINNIPEG- The UBC Thunderbirds (1-0-0) started off the 2017-18 Canada West campaign on the road in a physical affair against the Manitoba Bisons (0-1-0) on Saturday at Wayne Fleming Arena, with the 'Birds coming away with a 6-4 win.
 
Opening night of the Canada West season saw the Thunderbirds beat the Bisons in a spirited affair, with an offensive outburst in the third period from the Thunderbirds being the difference in this game. The dislike between these two squads was evident from the outset, and persisted throughout with countless scrums and dust-ups after the whistles in what was a nasty meeting to open the season.
 
"We had a lot of energy and came out real good, real solid," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "They ended up getting a foal early even though we were dictating the play, but our goalie Matt Hewitt kept us in it early on."
 

TBirds win on the road! UBC Men's Hockey takes the victory 6-4 in a tough matchup against @umbisons. Rematch tomorrow promises to be good! pic.twitter.com/aSA7sNOgyX

— UBC Men's Hockey (@UBCMHKY) October 8, 2017

 
UBC got their legs under them in the second half of the opening frame and responded with a tally of their own from Matt Revel with 4:43 remaining in the first, tying the score at one by the end of the first period. It was the former Portland Winterhawk's first U SPORTS goal.
 
"How do describe Matt Revel? He's done everything we've asked of him," said Butenschon. "He's made his line mates better. He's been really good with the puck. In his own zone it's still a bit of a learning curve. He's been playing against teenagers in the WHL, now he's going up against grown men. But with the puck he's been outstanding and he's a threat every time he's been on the ice."
 
The furious pace that was set in the first period continued early in the second, with both teams trading early scoring chances back and forth down the ice. The T-Birds were the better team of the two throughout the second period, controlling most of the play and spending prolonged time in the Bisons zone and were rewarded with their second goal by Carter Popoff, putting the 'Birds ahead 2-1.
 
Things went off the rails for Manitoba late in the third as UBC added to their lead at 12:13 when Austin Vetterl fired home a shot, with the assists going to Nick Buonassisi and Joe Carvalho.
 
UBC put the game out of reach at 13:28 of the third period when Vetterl got his second of the game just mere moments after his first. The Thunderbirds would add another with 4:45 left in the third coming off the stick of Buonassisi. 
 
Manitoba and UBC will battle it out once again on Sunday, October 8 in the rematch of this season opening series at 11 am PT at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg.