VANCOUVER – After trailing 5-1 heading into the third period, the UBC Thunderbirds scored four times, nearly completing the comeback, but the University of Wisconsin Badgers scored twice late, including an empty netter, to earn a 7-5 win, capping off an exciting weekend of international hockey in wild fashion at Father David Bauer Arena.

Montreal Canadiens' 2019 first round draft pick Cole Caufield scored his first collegiate hat trick which included the eventual game winner.

UBC's offence was led by third year forward Matt Revel who got the 'Birds on the board with a short handed goal in the second and added his second of the game early in the final frame. First year T-Birds forward Jake Kryski also had a pair of goals Sunday afternoon, his first in the blue and gold.



"In the third period we showed really good signs of skill, we started making plays under pressure and started making great passes," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "It was good to get some confidence to build off and I thought our D broke the puck out really well in the third and handled the forecheck really well."

The Badgers had their way on the man advantage Sunday going 4-for-6, three of them in the first period which saw Wisconsin stake out a 4-0 advantage through 20 minutes. UBC finished the game 1-for-3 while the Badgers outshot the 'Birds 34-25.

Wisconsin dominated the opening period scoring three times within a six minute span. Captain Wyatt Kalynuk (Philadelphia, 2017 7^th round) hammered a one-timer from the point to break the ice on the power play just four minutes in.



After Sean Dhooghe doubled the Badgers' lead, Caufield scored his first of the game on the end of a 4-on-2 rush with little chance for Daniel Lebedeff who played the first period in goal for the T-Birds. All three Badgers goaltenders saw game action Sunday with Jack Berry playing the final two frames in UBC's net while Johan Blomquist picked up the win for Wisconsin. Rylan Toth was unable to dress Sunday and with Patrick Dea still on the mend, the decision was made to share the Badgers' puck stoppers.

Projected 2020 first round draft pick Dylan Holloway capped off the four-goal opening frame with a one-timer on the man advantage at the 14:23 mark.

Caufield gave the visitors from Wisconsin a 5-0 lead early in the second on yet another power play tally, finishing off a back-door feed from Linus Weissbach (Buffalo, 2017 7^th round).



Revel gave the T-Birds some hope when he drove into the offensive zone with speed on a short handed breakaway, slipping the puck past Blomquist on a forehand, backhand deke. Revel scored his second of the afternoon early in the third, going top shelf, placing the puck over the Swedish goaltender's right shoulder.

Less than two minutes later at the 4:57 mark, Kryski scored his first as a Thunderbird on a tap-in off an Austin Vetterl feed. Austin Glover also picked up a helper.

With 5:27 left on the clock, Kryski sniped his second of the game, a beautiful shot just under the crossbar to pull the 'Birds within two.

UBC was just about to pull Berry for the extra attacker when Caufield came in on an odd man rush and wristed the puck over his own goaltender's glove, completing the hat trick.

?? MHKY | A frantic finish but @BadgerMHockey score an empty netter for the 7-5 victory over @UBCMHKY pic.twitter.com/EWtkIgRDzW

— UBC Thunderbirds / @UBCTBirds (@ubctbirds) September 2, 2019

The 'Birds did put Berry on the bench and got back within one when Glover banged in a loose puck with 40.9 seconds remaining. But sophomore Jack Gorniak (Montreal, 2018 4^th round) slid the puck into the empty net to seal the victory.

All told it was an exciting finish for what was a weekend full of new experiences both on and off the ice for both teams.



"It was a hell of an experience, really special to host a program like that," added Butenschon. "They're about to start their season with a lot of unbelievable young talent and I think it's going to be a good story for us to say we were there when they started their journey. Hopefully they have a lot of success this year."

The Thunderbirds will now turn their attention to a familiar Canada West foe when they head to northern Alberta for a pair of exhibition games against the defending conference champion Golden Bears Friday and Saturday, September 6^th and 7^th.