EDMONTON – The Alberta Golden Bears scored the final three goals of the game to hand the UBC Thunderbirds a 5-1 loss Saturday night at Clare Drake Arena in the final Canada West game of 2019.

Curtis Miske scored twice while Matt Berlin made 22 saves as the No. 2 ranked Bears handed the T-Birds a fourth straight loss. The 'Birds now sit in a tie with Lethbridge for sixth in the conference standings heading into the New Year.

Cole Sanford, Chad Butcher and Nolan Volcan also scored for the Bears who completed both the weekend and season sweep over UBC, winning all four conference meetings.

Austin Glover scored the lone UBC goal in the third period with Rylan Toth making 36 saves in a strong performance between the pipes for the 'Birds.



"They're really good at protecting the middle of the ice and the high danger areas, we just couldn't get another one," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon whose team couldn't dig out of the 2-0 deficit heading into the third. "Alberta just kept coming at us with four lines all weekend long and when you only have 11 forwards in the lineup, it's really hard."

Like they did the previous night, Alberta heavily outshot the 'Birds in the opening frame while also limiting UBC's offensive chances. Even with a 9-3 shot lead after one, however, Toth was excellent, stopping every shot he faced in the opening frame.

Sanford broke the deadlock just 25 seconds into the second period, beating Toth on a breakaway off a UBC turnover at their blue line. Miske doubled the lead late in the second, beating Toth on a rebound created off a Volcan breakaway.



Glover trimmed Alberta's lead down to one early in the third, beating Berlin for his fifth of the season. However the Bears answered back quickly as Miske scored his second of the game and fifth of the season, on the power play.

Butcher sealed the win with an empty net goal in the final two minutes before Volcan added his fourth just 30 seconds later. 

"We got to continue to believe and get healthy," added Butenschon whose team will get a chance to hit the re-set button over the holiday break. "We'll get (Maxwell James) and (Quinn Benjafield) back, we'll add a couple defencemen after Christmas and it's going to be a bit of a different look and different feel to be able to play guys who are playing the right way, and play four lines."

The 'Birds now get a full month off from Canada West action, returning to the ice January 3^rd and 4^th when they host the Calgary Dinos.