VANCOUVER – The long winter break turned out to be a bit longer than expected for the UBC Thunderbirds who finally return to Canada West action this Friday and Saturday, January 21 and 22 hosting the Calgary Dinos at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Bolting out of the shortened season gates with a 10-1-1 record, the first place T-Birds face perhaps their biggest test yet in the Dinos (9-4-1) who sit just two points back while also coming off a dominant series sweep over the TWU Spartans last weekend.

"It's just another challenge and if anything, we've learned a lot the last two years about thinking on the fly and pivoting in tough situations," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon whose team has had to do some extra pivoting the last couple weeks due to COVID-19 protocols. "The group has handled it pretty well. We haven't played much the last couple months so just trying to shake the rust off, trying to find our game legs, trying to get our timing, trying to feel good because Calgary played last week and they're going to come in here with all of that stuff already behind them and it's going to be a real tough challenge."

The winter break came at an unfortunate time for the 'Birds when you consider their unprecedented first half of the season that saw them vault to the top of the standings and a number two national ranking. Fast forward to mid January that saw exams followed by the holidays and then a COVID delay, it won't necessarily be easy to pick up right where the left off, although that is certainly the plan.

"We're trying to just basically flick the switch and continue that," added Butenschon. "Scoring off the rush, be creative offensively, nice scoring touch around the net, and the D getting involved. We want to continue that, have all five guys involved on offence and not just sit back and play patient, we want to dictate the pace of play, we want to be aggressive."

The 'Birds know the type of game that has given them success, but they also know the type of game the Dinos bring, and it's an unforgiving brand of hockey that can make you pay for unforced errors.

"Historically they play hard, they're physical, they're smart, they're organized, and they're patient. They don't extend themselves, they don't get running around so we got to be able to manage the puck well, don't turn pucks over at the blue lines, keep them to the outside. It'll be a similar game to Saskatchewan, I think for our young guys it might be a real eye opener because everyone talks about Alberta and Saskatchewan but you throw Mount Royal and Calgary in there, everybody's good and capable of winning."

Friday night marks the beginning of what's a bit of a sprint to the regular season finish line with just eight games remaining for the T-Birds, six of those against teams currently sitting in the top five in the Canada West.

Just one more win will clinch a playoff berth for UBC, but the 'Birds have their eyes set on much more than that. However, given all that's transpired, it really will be one game at a time as they make their return to the ice.

Puck drop Friday night is set for 7:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT, both at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Tickets are available but must be reserved in advance. Both games will also be streamed live on Canada West TV.