WINNIPEG – The UBC Thunderbirds extended their season opening win streak to four games with a 4-3 overtime win over the host Manitoba Bisons Saturday afternoon at Wayne Fleming Arena.

The 'Birds never led through 60 minutes, but got a game tying tally from Ryan Pouliot late in the third before Chris Douglas scored the game winner on a shorthanded 2-on-1 with Tian Rask, improving UBC to a perfect 4-0 on the season.

"I was just trying to get my stick in the lane," said Douglas. "This weekend was a battle, but we found a way to get it done."



"In our league it's so tough to sweep a team because it's so tight and competitive with a lot of pride on the line," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon. "It was a challenge, there wasn't much room out there. They defended really well, they blocked shots, they sacrificed their bodies, but we just stuck to it."

The Bisons found themselves on the power play three times in the first period but were only able to capitalize once when Linden McCorrister opened scoring with his first goal of the season. Manitoba's early lead only lasted ten minutes as UBC's Jarret Tyszka answered with the equalizer late in the period.

As they had in the first, the Bisons opened scoring in the second period when Colton Veloso picked the puck off from the Thunderbirds defence and fired it over Ethan Anders' blocker to regain the lead. Tyszka and McCorrister traded goals yet again and Manitoba found themselves with a 3-2 lead heading into the final period.



The Thunderbirds applied relentless pressure in the third, outshooting the Bisons 15-9. With two minutes remaining, Pouliot potted the equalizer to send the game to overtime.

The extra period only lasted two minutes. With Jake Kryski in the penalty box, the Thunderbirds delivered the final goal of the weekend shorthanded. Douglas' second of the year pushed the T-Birds to a perfect 4-0 start for the second time in the last three seasons.

Anders made 29 saves for his first Canada West win in goal.

"Ethan's been great, right from the get-go," said Butenschon. "Great practice habits and he works well with Lyndon Sammartino, our goalie coach, and Dorrin Luding our third-string goalie too who's been great, everyone's been pushing each other. For Ethan to come back to the prairies, his parents came down from Regina, he gets his first start and had a tough opponent like Manitoba, it was just great to see and so happy to get his first win."

The 'Birds return home to Vancouver to host the Grant MacEwan Griffins for the first time in Canada West play next Friday and Saturday at Father Bauer Arena. UBC will be looking to extend their winning streak beyond four games to start a season for the first time in program history.