The Matchup
The two-time defending Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds (14-5-5-4) begin their quest for an historic third straight banner this weekend hosting the Mount Royal Cougars (7-17-3-1) in a best-of-three conference quarter-final series starting Friday, February 16 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
It's the sixth straight season the T-Birds open the playoffs on home ice but the first time in four years they have not advanced straight to the semi-finals with a bye. It's also the first time the 'Birds and Cougars have met in the post-season.
UBC swept the Cougars in their regular season series with all but one of the four games decided by a single goal.
Puck drop for game one is set for 3:00 p.m. PT Friday with game two at 3:00 p.m. PT Saturday. If needed, game three is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, all at Doug Mitchell.
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Last Action
UBC picked up three points in Edmonton last weekend closing out the regular season with an overtime win on Friday and a double overtime loss Saturday. Four of the 'Birds' last five games have been decided beyond regulation.
The Cougars suffered a pair of shutout losses at home to the Saskatchewan Huskies last weekend. Mount Royal enters the playoffs having lost four in a row, outscored by a combined 7-1 margin during that span.
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By the Numbers
25 – The 'Birds finished the regular season with 60 goals for, 25 more than the Cougars, or nearly a full goal more per game on average. The T-Birds had a home-ice goal differential of +11.
4 – UBC led the Canada West with four shorthanded goals on the season along with an 88.9 percent penalty kill. The Cougars, meanwhile, finished the season with the league's top PK at 92.7 percent.
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Players to Watch
Kathleen Cahoon (#74, F) – The fifth-year forward has turned it up at just the right time scoring the overtime winner last Friday night and then finding the back of the net again Saturday. Cahoon also scored the only goal in UBC's 1-0 shootout win over Mount Royal two weeks ago.
Celine Tardif (#7, D) – UBC's captain is coming off a three-point weekend in Alberta that helped the fourth-year defenceman set a new career high 14 points. Tardif finished the regular season third in team scoring and led all Canada West blue liners in points.
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Coach's Take
The Thunderbirds may have finished 38 points ahead of the Cougars but UBC head coach
Graham Thomas says no one can afford to take anyone lightly.
"They've got a really good goalie and don't give up a ton of goals," said Thomas. "Even though we've had success against them, it's a new season, everyone's coming in in first place, everyone's looking for a fresh start. Their team is opportunistic and they play a really defensive game so we have to play very smart."
The 'Birds are certainly happy to have home ice for the quarter-finals, especially given their recent schedule.
"It's always good to stay in our own beds, especially from just coming off the road," said Thomas who guided the T-Birds to a home ice berth for the sixth straight season. "We played three out of the last four weekends on the road so having to go back out on the road again this weekend would have been really tough. It's nice to be back at home and get settled, this is why a goal during the regular season was to get home ice."
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