VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds head into the holiday break in first place in the Canada West and remain a perfect 9-0 at home after securing a 6-1 victory over the Regina Cougars Saturday afternoon. Fans at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre were treated to an offensive show, with 11 different T-Birds registering a point in the win.

Earning their fifth weekend sweep of the season, the T-Birds (14-2-2) were simply too much to handle for a struggling Regina Cougars (2-13-1) team. UBC scored 11 goals and amassed 93 shots on goal over the two-game series.

"It's built around attacking as a unit of five and it just speaks to our depth, we're scoring up and down the lineup and in many different ways," said UBC assistant coach Mike Sommer of his team's offensive production.



UBC's top line of Chanreet Bassi (3A), Grace Elliott (1G, 1A), and Joelle Fiala (1G, 1A), led the way combining for seven points on Saturday. Bassi now has 18 points in 16 games played, leading the T-Birds in points, and stands third among all Canada West skaters. Puck-moving defender Hannah Koroll (3A) continues to be an offensive force as she's now recorded two or more points in four games and leads all Canada West defenders with 17 points.

A young and tenacious third line has provided the T-Birds with depth scoring and gritty checking, a big reason for the team's first-half success. First years Cassidy Rhodes (1G), and Jacquelyn Fleming (1G) both found the scoresheet on Saturday. Along with second-year Annalise Wong, the trio has accounted for 25 points so far this season.

"That group has consistently brought energy," added Sommer. "They've been playing the right way and it's been showing up for them offensively, but they're doing a lot of good things defensively as well."
It's been a solid 2022 season for the Thunderbirds thus far. They continue to see production throughout their lineup and have had solid goaltending from Elise Hugens and Kate Stuart, the latter of which made 12 saves Saturday for her seventh win of the season.



"In our conference we got nine really strong teams, anyone can win on any given night. We're really proud of how we've approached the first half of the season; not only on the ice but just in our approach to our academics and being good teammates and just continuing to play and be that Thunderbird brand that we're really proud of."

After such a strong start this season, UBC will be looking forward to a well-deserved break. The 'Birds aren't back in Canada West action until January 13, 2023 when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies for the first half of a doubleheader at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The Cougars will start the New Year at home to the Manitoba Bisons for a weekend series starting Friday, January 6.