EDMONTON – Despite enjoying the upper hand in zone time and chances for a second-consecutive night the UBC Thunderbirds found themselves on the wrong end of a one goal game, falling 4-3 to the Golden Bears Saturday evening at Clare Drake Arena. After coming into the weekend winners of six straight to begin the young Canada West season the 'Birds leave Alberta with their first two setbacks.
Daneel Lategan and Gary Haden netted two goals for the Golden Bears while they were aided by a 26 save performance from rookie goaltender Nick Schneider, who entered the contest as the Canada West leader in GAA among qualifiers.
Haden's goals amounted to his third and fourth of the year, moving him into 5
th place in the Canada West rookie goals race, in what has been an impressive start to his first campaign.
The two goals from Lategan, his sixth and seventh, move him into a tie for 3
rd place in the overall Canada West scoring race.
The win maintains the Bears 5
th place ranking in the CW standings, and are winners of four straight games - all against U SPORTS Top Ten opponents.
The Thunderbirds phenomenal start, unbeaten in six straight before this weekend, ends with the Bears sweeping the first series between the two since 2020.
The opening frame started quiet, with both teams displaying their athleticism and forechecking that has led them each to their U SPORTS top ten ranking. However, two UBC rookies would make their mark halfway through the period. The opening salvo was a point shot from
Chris Douglas, which was his third in four games. Then, after a Lategan crosscheck less than a minute later,
Scott Atkinson potted his second of the year on the powerplay to head into the first intermission up 2-0.
While the Bears outshot the Thunderbirds 13-10, UBC had most of scoring chances.
Just as the Tune Squad from
Space Jam came out of halftime and gave the Monstars a completely different look, it appeared head coach Ian Herbers had some secret stuff of his own to give the Bears a jolt headed into the second.
Alberta not only tied the game, but they finished the second up 3-2. Spearheaded by two goals from Haden, back-to-back, and a snipe at the beginning of the period from Lategan. The Bears outshot the visitors 16-8 this period, with Schneider putting aside all eight that came his way.
The third period lived up to the narrative of the game and series thus far, where the final scores have been decided by one goal apiece. It was a fragile Alberta lead for the first half of the period, just like the many swaying cup pyramids found along the Clare Drake boards this evening. That was until Lategan put his silky hands on display, deeking and scoring at the 9:34 mark in what ended up being the game-winning goal.
UBC got back on the board shortly after, with a top-shelf snipe off the blade of
Jake Kryski from a pass from his captain
Tyler Sandhu. That would be all they could muster, however, as the Golden Bears largely shut down any remaining chances to hold on for the win.
The Bears are back in action next weekend against the Manitoba Bisons (2-6-1) at home, while the Thunderbirds fly back to Vancouver to take on the conference leading and U SPORT #2 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (7-1-0).
