It's yet another big test for the UBC Thunderbirds as they prepare to host the No. 1 ranked Manitoba Bisons Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

It's the final home series of the calendar year for the T-Birds (4-2-2-2) and the third straight weekend against a top ten ranked team, this time facing the defending national champion Bisons (7-2-1-0) who are off to another blazing start, tied with the Alberta Pandas for first in the Canada West.

The 'Birds are currently alone in fourth place in the conference, just one point back of the third place Huskies, five behind the Pandas and Bisons.



It's been a tough stretch for UBC having lost three times in their last four contests, with three of those last four games going to overtime. A successful final home weekend of 2018 would certainly be a big boost for the young T-Birds heading toward the second half of the season.

Puck drop Friday night is set for 7:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Both contests are part of UBC's Shoot for the Cure promotion with donated proceeds heading to the on-going fight against cancer.  
 

Last Action

UBC picked up three points on the road in Saskatoon last weekend against the Huskies. The 'Birds fell 4-3 in double overtime Friday night and bounced back with a 2-1 double OT win of their own on Saturday.

The Bisons swept the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns last weekend with 8-0 and 4-1 wins, respectively. Manitoba enters this weekend having won six in a row, the longest active win streak in the Canada West.

By the Numbers

4 – Four of UBC's first ten games of the season have gone to overtime, with the 'Birds coming away victorious in two of them. The Bisons have had just one game go to extra time, a shootout win over the Regina Cougars.

3.1 – UBC has averaged 3.1 goals per game over the Bisons over the past two seasons, outscoring Manitoba by a 25-17 margin over that span along with a 5-2-1 record.
 

Players to Watch

Hannah Clayton-Carroll (#22, F) – UBC's leading goal scorer from 2017-18 hasn't missed a beat, currently leading the 'Birds in goals (4) and points (9). Tied for fourth in conference scoring, the fourth-year forward from Vancouver also has a +8 rating.



Mathea Fischer (#26, F) – Second in T-Birds scoring, just one point behind Clayton-Carroll, Fischer's three goals on the season already equals her total from last year. The Norwegian national now has points in five of her last six games.
 

Coach's Take

Another week, another big challenge for the 'Birds but it's a stretch of the schedule they feel will build resiliency and benefit them in the long run.

"We have the defending national champions coming in, the number one team in the country, we're excited for the challenge," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas. "We just have to keep focusing on the things we're building on, but at the same time it's going to be heightened intensity. There's no better way to finish off our home schedule in the first half."

Last weekend in Saskatchewan was a good learning experience for the team on how to be successful against some of the top opponents in the country.

"I think our group really figured some things out on our compete level and what it's going to take to win these close games," said Thomas. "We're really proud and excited about the things we learned last weekend and are ready to continue to build on that."