Following a full month off, the UBC Thunderbirds open up 2020 and the second half of the Canada West schedule with a pair of contests against their bitter rivals, the Calgary Dinos, January 3^rd and 4^th at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

The first half of the season was a bit of a rollercoaster for the 'Birds, unfortunately with more downs than ups. But the addition of two new bodies to the lineup in defencemen Jarret Tyszka and Anthony Bishop should help bolster the blue line and provide an overall boost as the T-Birds look to make a strong push toward the playoffs.

UBC enters 2020 holding down the sixth and final conference playoff berth, tied with Lethbridge in points but with the edge in their season series with the Pronghorns.



Regardless of who they play in their remaining 12 games, the 'Birds will need a playoff type mentality. That shouldn't be too hard to conjure this weekend as they face a solid Calgary squad which sits tied with Saskatchewan for second in the Canada West.

The ninth-ranked Dinos have won five straight games and have already beat the T-Birds twice this season haven taken both meetings in Calgary in October.

Puck drop for the first game of the New Year goes at 7:00 p.m. PT Friday at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Saturday's final regular season meeting between the 'Birds and Dinos is set for 3:00 p.m. PT Saturday.
 

Last Action

The 'Birds ended 2019 with four straight losses, the final two to the conference leading Alberta Golden Bears at the end of November.

Calgary extended their year-ending win streak to five with a weekend sweep at home over the Regina Cougars.
 

Players to Watch

Jarret Tyszka (#11, D) – The former fifth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens begins his U SPORTS career after a terrific four year tenure with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. The 6-foot-3, 192 pound defencemen put up 25 goals and 101 total points in 213 career games in Seattle.


  
Anthony Bishop (#32, D) – Hailing from Kelowna, Bishop finished his junior career with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors where he amassed 21 points in 25 regular season games last season. The 6-foot, 185 pound blue liner spent the previous three years in the WHL split between the Saskatoon Blades, Seattle Thunderbirds, Victoria Royals, and Tri-City Americans.
 

Coach's Take

It's been five weeks since the 'Birds last took to the ice for Canada West competition and to a man, the entire room is chomping at the bit to get back out there and make a strong push over the next month and a half.

"We're super pumped to get back to work," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon who is looking to guide his team to a fourth straight post-season berth under his tenure. "Guys have been back here for a week, getting the rust off and then when you know you have an opponent like Calgary, a perennial powerhouse team in our league, it's just a great way to get things started."



Knowing it will be a battle to clinch one of those playoff spots with no ability to leave anything to chance, the 'Birds are treating a weekend such as this with a playoff mentality.

"After Christmas it gets a little more serious," said Butenschon. "There's only 12 games left, we're in a dog fight and there's a real sense of urgency. It does feel like a playoff atmosphere already."

Adding Tyszka and Bishop to the roster is a definite boost for the 'Birds, but their head coach isn't wanting to put too much on their shoulders just yet.

"It's not going to be easy, I just want them to come in, get some confidence, keep it simple, contribute any way they can and then we'll evaluate them as the season goes on."