This weekend is as big as it gets for the UBC Thunderbirds who host the Manitoba Bisons for the sixth annual Winter Classic on Friday, January 17^th, the first half of a massive home series for the 'Birds who are battling for one of the final Canada West playoff berths with just four weeks left in the regular season.

The 'Birds currently find themselves just one point back of the Regina Cougars for the sixth and final playoff spot, but also just two points ahead of Lethbridge as the remaining eight games look to be a fight to the finish to see who will be able to make it to the post-season.

UBC has been mired in an eight-game losing skid dating back to November. While 2020 hasn't seen the desired results for the T-Birds, they have picked up a point in two of their last three games having suffered overtime losses to Calgary and Regina.

View this post on Instagram

THE 2020 WINTER CLASSIC IS THIS FRIDAY ?????????? Bring your Dad, BFF, Girlfriend, Boyfriend... WE ARE ALL T-Birds this Friday ???????? Tickets are limited so head over to gothunderbirds.ca/winnterclassic to get your tickets now ?? #gobirdsgo #birdgang #packthedoug

A post shared by UBC Thunderbirds Men's Hockey (@ubcmhky) on Jan 13, 2020 at 3:37pm PST

The tight playoff race features four teams separated by just eight points, all gunning for the final two playoff berths, including both the T-Birds and the Bisons. Manitoba enters the weekend six points up on UBC in fifth place where they sit comfortably, but not secure, still far from clinching a trip to the post-season.

This all makes for what could be the most pivotal, exciting Winter Classic yet. The T-Birds will look to channel a sell-out crowd of nearly six-thousand to help turn their season around in the hopes of being able to secure a ninth-consecutive playoff appearance.

Puck drop Friday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 7:15 p.m. PT, following a special pre-game ceremony involving the 1971 Western Canadian Champion T-Birds team. Saturday's final regular season meeting between the 'Birds and Bisons is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT.
 

Last Action

The 'Birds had to settle for a single point in last weekend's series against the Regina Cougars in the Saskatchewan capital. After a 4-2 loss Friday night, UBC scored early in Saturday's series finale but eventually fell 2-1 in double overtime.



Manitoba split their weekend series against the Dinos in Calgary. The Bisons dropped a 6-3 decision Friday night but rebounded with a 2-1 win Saturday, ending the Dinos' eight-game win streak in the process.
 

Players to Watch

Shaun Dosanjh (#6, D) – One of the most unheralded members of the T-Birds, Dosanjh has done yeoman's work for UBC this season. Playing both on defence and up front when needed, the third year Thunderbird has played a terrific, dependable two-way game as evidenced by his team leading +3.


 
Quinn Benjafield (#22, F) – After missing six games due to an upper body injury, the rookie forward returned to the lineup in Regina last weekend. With four goals on the season, two of them on the power play, Benjafield should help rejuvenate UBC's offence which struggled in his absence.
 

Coach's Take

Everyone associated with the team looks forward to the Winter Classic, but this year perhaps more than ever before there's an added sense of urgency.

"It's an honour for us to get out there and try to put a good product on for everybody and try to get the win, and that's the most important thing for us right now," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon who is preparing for his fourth Winter Classic as the 'Birds' bench boss. "We're in a real dog fight. It's really important we get these two points."

The Bisons have been enjoying one of their better seasons in the recent past and it's due to the work of a hard working, gritty team which earned the split against UBC in Winnipeg back in October.



"We just need to worry about ourselves and play hockey the right way and get results," explained Butenschon who has seen his team play better of late, just without the results to show for it. "We can't worry about the standings, we can't worry about Manitoba. We literally have to go out, be short sighted, treat each shift like it's the last one and at the end of the weekend look back and feel good."

The hope for this weekend is not only for a pair of wins, but also to serve as a launching pad for the 'Birds who have been sticking to the process in an effort to work their way out of their current funk.

"It's a huge opportunity for growth. It's different when you're winning a lot of hockey games and put some winning streaks together. This year it hasn't had the flow and we haven't put the streaks together so there's been a lot of learning for us. Hopefully we can grow together and in the end be a better team for it."