VANCOUVER –
Carter Popoff scored twice including the game winner as the UBC Thunderbirds captured the inaugural Captain's Cup with a 3-1 win over the Trinity Western Spartans at Father Bauer Arena Saturday afternoon.
"It was great to see the (Vancouver) Giants get behind something like this," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon.
"Trinity Western, SFU, everyone did a lot of work and put a lot into it. It's great to have everyone be a part of it and today to get the cup was pretty cool."
Popoff scored early in the second to get UBC on the board and then doubled the T-Birds lead finishing a two-on-one with
Michael Stenerson early in the third to finish the pre-season with three goals in four games.
"This offseason I really worked hard, eating right and doing all those cliché things you need to do but it works out," said the second year forward.
"Last year was a learning year for me. Sven did a great job mentoring me during the year. Having some success is great too, so hopefully that can translate into the regular season."
The 'Birds weren't able to capitalize on seven power play chances but with UBC leading by a goal facing a surging Spartans squad,
Chase Clayton gave the 'Birds some much needed insurance with a shorthanded goal with less than two minutes remaining.
UBC outshot the Spartans 41-15 while
Matt Hewitt and Rylan Toth split goaltending duties for the win.
"For us the challenge was not to get too fancy with our shots or be perfect," said Butenschon when asked about facing a hot goaltender in TWU's Silas Matthys.
"Our league is filled with great goalies so that's nothing new, we're going to run into that during the season and that was a good exhibition game to prepare. It just proves you have to stick to the game plan and wear them down."
It remained a one goal game until early in the third when Stenerson stole the puck just outside the TWU blueline and quickly moved into the offensive zone with Popoff who finished off the odd man rush to double the 'Birds' lead.
Four minutes later at 7:21 the Spartans got on the board with a Brayden Brown power play goal. Jacob Mills made a nice feed from behind the net for the only assist.
The Spartans had three more chances on the power play in the third period spending the final three minutes of the game on the man advantage but instead it was Clayton who put the game on ice for UBC with his shorthanded marker.
The Thunderbirds finish pre-season play with a 3-1 record and now get set to start the Canada West regular season next Saturday and Sunday, October 7
th and 8
th in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Bisons.
"Injuries have taken their toll already on us and the season hasn't even started yet but moments like this it really draws our team close together," said Popoff.
"We know that in games like these everyone's got to contribute. We have a good attitude, we've got a good comradery in the dressing room and we're really excited to get to Manitoba."
UBC's home opener is set for Friday, October 13th against the Calgary Dinos at Father Bauer Arena.
