VANCOUVER – In his first game of the season having missed the first two weekends with an injury, Scott Atkinson played the role of hero, scoring the overtime winner as the UBC Thunderbirds earned a 4-3 win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena.

Needing extra time for the second straight game, the T-Birds extended their season-long win streak to five games.

"I said it right from the beginning this year that the parity in our league is the best since I've been here and every night it's going to be difficult to win," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon following the gritty battle and another comeback win. "(Manitoba is) very disciplined, very structured, they kept us to the outside, they defended the middle of the ice really well and their goalie made the first saves. It was kind of a great road game for them."



With a 2-1 lead after the opening period, the T-Birds quickly found themselves on the other side of the equation when the Bisons scored twice before the two minute mark of the second.

40 seconds in, the Bisons leveled the score once again on an odd bounce. Chase Hartje's shot from the high slot bounced off the post, off Kaeden Lane's skate and into the back of the net for the Manitoba defenceman's second goal of the season.

Just over a minute later, the Bisons took their first lead of the game when Josh Paulhus scored off a quick transition. After a UBC shot attempt was blocked, Manitoba quickly moved up ice when Kian Calder sent Paulhus and Hayden Ostir on a two-on-one.  



After killing off their fifth penalty of the game, the 'Birds found the equalizer yet again with 4:55 remaining in the second. Liam Kindree added to his league leading point total, wristing a shot from the slot off a beautiful drop pass from Sasha Mutala on an odd-man rush for his third of the season.

Despite putting up 17 of their 54 shots in the third period, the T-Birds couldn't solve Thornton for the winner as the Bisons picked up their first point of the season forcing the game to overtime.

Two minutes into the extra frame, Atkinson went end to end and shot across his body, over Thornton's glove.

"That was almost as good as the win, just seeing Scotty flying out there and beating the goalie in overtime," said Butenschon. "The boys love it when he's in the lineup. He's such a warrior for us, that probably couldn't happen to a better guy."



Conner McDonald and captain Chris Douglas both scored in the opening period, the second of the season for each of them as the 'Birds held a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes before the Bisons quick double strikes changed the tone of the game.

Lane made 24 saves to pick up his fourth win of the season.

"Our execution around the net and our finish, the final touch was not there tonight," added Butenschon after needing overtime despite putting up more than 50 shots for the second straight game. "I think a little bit was bad luck, pucks were just getting deflected at the last second and their goalie played really good. I think I'll like our chances if we're putting north of 50 every night on the opposing team."
 

?? MHKY | @UBCMHKY forward Scott Atkinson scored the overtime winner Friday night in his first game of the @CanadaWest season to keep the T-Birds undefeated on the year pic.twitter.com/EpxU0m5pn5

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) October 14, 2023

Now 5-0 on the season, the T-Birds have the chance to make it six straight wins to start the campaign for the second time in the last three years with a victory in Saturday's rematch.

Puck drop at Father David Bauer Arena is set for 3:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available now and the game will be streamed live on Canada West TV.