The Matchup
The No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds (9-4-1-2) open up the New Year with a four-game home stand starting Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6 against the surging Calgary Dinos (6-8-0-2) at Father Bauer Arena.
Even though the T-Birds enter this weekend just three points behind Manitoba for first in the Canada West, it will be a stiff test against a Dinos team that has won five of their last eight, currently holding down the sixth and final playoff spot but just a single point behind fifth-place Regina.
The 'Birds last met the Dinos in the second week of the season back in mid-October when UBC earned a pair of wins in Calgary. The T-Birds have won six in a row over the Dinos with Calgary last earning an overtime win over UBC in November of 2015 in Vancouver.
Puck drop Friday is 7:00 p.m. PT with the final meeting of the regular season between the 'Birds and Dinos set for 1:00 p.m. PT Saturday.
Last Action
UBC dropped their final game of 2017 but picked up a point in doing so falling 2-1 to the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg back in early December. The 'Birds finished with a four-point weekend having earned a 3-0 win the previous night.
The Dinos won their final two games before the break completing the home-and-home sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
By the Numbers
10 – The Thunderbirds boast the best goal differential in the Canada West at +10. UBC's 17 goals on home ice are tied for the most in the conference.
3 – UBC has scored a Canada West leading three shorthanded goals through the first 16 games of the season. Calgary on the other hand remains the only team in the conference with neither a shorthanded goal for nor against.
Players to Watch
Celine Tardif (#7, D) – UBC's captain finished 2017 with a goal and two assists against the Bisons and leads the Thunderbirds in scoring. The fourth-year blueliner's ten points also leads all Canada West defencemen.
Tory Micklash (#31, G) – The second-year netminder earned her first shutout of the season against her hometown Bisons. Micklash enters this weekend leading the Canada West in wins with seven while boasting a 1.42 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.
Coach's Take
Despite having a full month in between games, UBC head coach
Graham Thomas isn't concerned about any sort of rust factor heading into this weekend.
"I think we're turning into a mature group, we're growing up fast," said Thomas who feels his team is amped and ready to return to Canada West action. "I think the second half is going to be really good for us. We had a good break, we clarified some things, we learned some lessons and we've been working really hard on our fitness levels which has been a big focus for us."
With just three points separating second through fourth in the conference, Thomas insists every one of the remaining 12 games on the schedule will be of huge importance.
"Every game is massive, every point is valuable, you can't take a game off," said the sixth-year bench boss. "You have to be mentally sharp and prepared for every single game because it will come down to a matter of inches."
Calgary's recent surge also comes as no surprise to Thomas who expects a hard-fought weekend series.
"They're a very well coached team and they always have a really good second half," added Thomas. "They're going to be really motivated and will keep pushing. They're definitely going to be ready to go and we have to be ready for that."
