VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (7-5-1-3) are prepped and ready to start the new year on the road with a rematch against the first-place Calgary Dinos (10-4-1-1) this weekend. Puck drop for game one is slated for 6:00 p.m. PT on Friday, January 3, with game two getting underway on Saturday, January 4, at 2:00 p.m. PT - both inside Calgary's Father David Bauer Arena.
The 'Birds earned an impressive six-game win streak through mid-November, but faced some adversity to close out 2019 and currently sit in fourth place in the Canada West. Calgary has won seven of their last eight games, with one shootout loss coming at the hands of the Lethbridge Pronghorns (6-7-1-2) in late November.
These two Canada West rivals split their series inside Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in week two of conference play back in October. Elizabeth Lang scored the double OT winner for the Dinos in game one after a late equalizer by Delaney Frey, while game two was all T-Birds in a 3-0 shutout victory.
Last Action
UBC was shutout in two straight games against the Alberta Pandas (9-6-1-0) to cap off the calendar year - losing 1-0 and 3-0 on home ice. Night two of the back-to-back saw Alberta's Autumn MacDougall score her Canada West-leading ninth and tenth goals of the season, both on the power play in front of the inaugural Winter Thunderland festival fans as the 'Birds were unable to score a goal for the third straight outing.
Calgary was on the road for a sweep of the Regina Cougars, 2-1 and 4-2 in their final two games before the winter break.
Coach's Take
UBC head coach Graham Thomas is looking forward to a fresh start coming back into Canada West action.
"It wasn't an ideal way to go into the break," said Thomas "But it made us look at some things and get better in certain areas that we might not have otherwise looked at if we kept our streak going. t's good we have a full, healthy group back and have a chance for a fresh start. We made adjustments and are feeling confident.
Thomas said his team is excited to kick off the new year with a challenge, that could potentially hold playoff implications down the stretch.
"They have a pretty veteran group with a solid roster and their top players are scoring every game. There's a tight race at the top of the conference, and every time we play a top team it's important. It's important if we end up being tied in the standings, but we still have to stick to our process as well."
