VANCOUVER – A whirlwind of a preseason for the UBC Thunderbirds came to an end Saturday with a 6-2 win over the Trinity Western Spartans to clinch their second annual Captains Cup title.
The Spartans staked out a two-goal lead early in the second period but the hosts responded, tying the game by the end of the frame before scoring four more in the third. Rookie forwards Maxwell James and Colton Kehler each scored twice and added an assist while Patrick Dea made 16 saves for his third win of the preseason.
After dispatching Simon Fraser 4-1 Friday night, the 'Birds swept the Captains Cup for the second straight season while finishing their 2018 preseason schedule with a 5-1 record.
Although UBC was by far the better team on paper Saturday, the game did not begin in their favour. Trinity Western opened scoring just four minutes into the opening frame with Spartans forward Travis Ververda jamming the puck past Dea.
Neither team would have much more offense in the first period, however, UBC controlled the play well on their two power plays in the frame despite not scoring.
The beginning of the second period didn't improve things for the home team. 53 seconds in UBC would return to the power-play but the 'Birds surrendered a shorthanded goal to TWU's Spencer Gerth. After falling to a two goal deficit, the T-Birds began to crawl back with their first goal of the night from Kehler. After receiving a pass from James, Kehler fired a shot from the top of the left circle which caught the underside of the bar before falling behind the goal line.
Following a successful penalty kill, the 'Birds would tie the game up at two with three minutes remaining in the period. This time it was Kehler returning the favour setting up James for his second of the preseason.
The T-Birds owned the third period despite only outshooting the Spartans by a 9-8 margin. James scored the game winner just 41 seconds in with third-year defenceman Tanner Faith picking up the lone helper.
Second-year forward Tyler Sandhu doubled UBC's lead just over two minutes later and Faith completed his three-point night with his second of the preseason at the 7:17 mark.
Kehler put the icing on the cake with a power play goal from Sandhu and Jerret Smith with just under three minutes remaining.
UBC finished their final preseason game 1-for-4 on the power play while killing off all three TWU chances. The 'Birds outshot the visitors 30-20.
The 'Birds won't be back on home ice for nearly three weeks as they now prepare to begin the Canada West season this coming weekend when they visit the Lethbridge Pronghorns Friday and Saturday, September 28
th and 29
th.
Following an early bye week, UBC hosts the Mount Royal Cougars for their home opener Friday, October 12
th at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
