It's a rematch of last year's Canada West quarter-final playoff series as the UBC Thunderbirds host the Regina Cougars January 10^th and 11^th at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

This weekend series could turn out to be equally critical for both teams as the T-Birds look to end a six game losing skid while the Cougars aim to stay in the Canada West playoff race with Regina currently on the outside looking in.

The Cougars have been on the upswing of late having won six of their last ten games after starting the season with one victory in their first five.



UBC, meanwhile, currently finds themselves just six points ahead of the Cougars in fifth place in the Canada West. The 'Birds' current six game slide began immediately after a six game win streak in a season that's had more than it's fair share of ups and downs.

With just five weeks remaining in the regular season, the 'Birds are looking to reinvigorate their offence while getting back in the win column and gain some momentum heading into the playoffs. But they'll have to stave off a hungry Cougars squad at the same time.

Puck drop Friday is set for 7:00 p.m. PT at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Saturday's final regular season meeting with Regina goes at 2:00 p.m. PT.
 

Last Action

UBC saw their current losing streak extend into the first weekend of 2020 having dropped both games to the Dinos in Calgary. After suffering a fourth consecutive shutout loss last Friday night, the T-Birds fell 3-1 Saturday as the Dinos earned the season series win.

The Cougars swept their first series of the New Year with a pair of victories over the Pronghorns in Lethbridge.
 

Players to Watch

Chanreet Bassi (#21, F) – The rookie forward scored her third goal of the season Saturday in Calgary. The Lake Country product leads all T-Bird rookies with five points.



Shiayli Toni (#8, F) – The fourth year forward from Saskatoon returned to the T-Birds' lineup last weekend for her first regular season games since the end of the 2017-18 season. Toni has six goals and 20 points to her credit over the course of her Thunderbirds career.
 

Coach's Take

Playing at home for the first time in 2020 is perhaps just what the T-Birds need to get out of their current funk.

"It's something that challenges you and we have to find a way to push through and rise above and do it together," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas. "We have to be sick of losing, they have to make the decision that enough is enough."

Goals have been tough to come by as the 'Birds have been outscored by a combined 13-2 on their current six game slide.



"Some of our seniors and captains and top scorers are really feeling the pressure and we need other players to step up offensively," Thomas insisted. "We have the depth where offence can come from a lot of different people."

The T-Birds and Cougars have quite the heated rivalry. The last time the Cougars found themselves in Vancouver, they had their post-season end in a game with a combined 78 penalty minutes.

"It's always a battle with them. They're a physical team. We just have to find a way to focus on playing hockey and executing. They're a motivated group. Every point, every game is huge so it's going to be intense."