For the second time in the last four years, the UBC Thunderbirds will open up the Canada West playoffs with a quarter-final series against the Mount Royal Cougars. But unlike their last meeting in 2016, the T-Birds will host the best-of-three series this go around, starting Friday, February 15 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
The T-Birds have known for weeks they would end up facing the Cougars, but it wasn't until the final day of the regular season that UBC clinched the last remaining home playoff berth as Canada West men's hockey playoffs will be hosted in Vancouver in back-to-back seasons for the first time in history.
Last February, the 'Birds hosted the Calgary Dinos in what was just the third series at UBC since the formation of the present-day Canada West in 1966-67. The Dinos ended up defeating the T-Birds in three games. The Cougars upset the host Manitoba Bisons in two straight in last year's other quarter-final before being swept themselves by the eventual national champion Alberta Golden Bears.
In the T-Birds' only previous playoff series against Mount Royal four years ago, the Cougars swept UBC in two straight.
This season saw the T-Birds and Cougars split their regular season series with each team winning both at home. The 'Birds earned a pair of one-goal regulation victories back in mid-October while the Cougars opened up 2019 with two convincing wins over UBC by a combined 11-3 margin.
Puck drop for game one of the quarter-final is Friday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Game two goes Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PT and game three (if necessary) is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT.
Last Action
The T-Birds completed the season series sweep of the Regina Cougars with a pair of wins in the Saskatchewan capital over the weekend. UBC earned a convincing 5-1 victory Friday night followed up by a 29 save
Patrick Dea shutout Saturday to close out the regular season.
Mount Royal split a home-and-home with the Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Cougars earned a 5-2 win Friday night at home then dropped a 6-2 decision Saturday in Lethbridge. MRU has just one win in their last eight games.
Players to Watch
Chase Clayton (#22, F) – The fourth-year forward scored both UBC goals on Saturday and ended his final regular season in the blue and gold with six goals in the last three games. The Abbotsford product finished the year with eight goals, tying his previous career high, and a total of 12 points.
Carter Popoff (#42, F) – Popoff led the 'Birds in scoring with 21 points, a new career high, while also setting a new personal best with 16 assists, also tops on the team. Seven of the former Vancouver Giant's points came on the power play. The Richmond native scored twice in last year's quarter-final series against the Dinos.
Coach's Take
It's fitting the T-Birds and Cougars split their season series since there are many similarities between the way they play.
"They're a real structured, very quick, fast team, they play with pace, they get in on the forecheck," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon who faces MRU for the first time in the playoffs as bench boss. "We just need to be able to withstand their pressure and make plays under extreme stress because they're going to come hard."
The Cougars struggled this season on special teams with a league worst power play at 11.5 percent. But that number can be misleading given the amount of highly skilled forwards on their roster.
"They're very good five-on-five, their plus-minus is extremely good," stressed Butenschon. "They have some extremely skilled, heavy players and you have to take away their time and space to try to slow them down. They still might find the scoresheet but that's what you have to do to slow them down and try to win a series."
When it comes to the 'Birds' own offence, they've scored 13 goals on their season-ending three-game win streak, but there's still room for improvement.
"I love our D corps, you can look at each player and I think they're all at the top of their game right now. Goaltending is at the top of their game. The forward group, there's still guys that need to step up and elevate their game and take it to another level."
