VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds have equalled their best start to a season in program history with a 5-2 win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons Saturday afternoon at Father David Bauer Arena.
The sixth straight victory equals UBC's 2021-22 start while also keeping them alone atop the Canada West standings.
Despite falling behind in the opening period after the Bisons (0-3-1) struck twice within a 69 second span, the T-Birds scored five unanswered while
Cole Schwebius made 13 saves to earn his second win of the season.
"Manitoba really sat back and made it hard on us to come through the middle of the ice and kept our shots to the outside," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon of a hardworking Bisons team. "When you play teams like that you just really got to stay mentally focussed and stick to the process. Don't try anything new, don't get away from the game plan and eventually the dam will break and that's kind of what happened today. After five periods, today in the third period they just couldn't skate with us anymore."
It was another very strong performance by Manitoba goaltender Kolby Thornton who faced 39 shots Saturday for a total of 93 over the course of less than 22 hours.
He got some good early run support when captain Johnny Hooker and Parker Malchuk made it 2-0 by the 9:42 mark. Hooker converted on a one-timer off a cross-ice feed from Chase Hartje while Malchuk backhanded a bouncing puck off a rebound in tight.
Needing a response, the T-Birds got one just 17 seconds later on the power play when
Ty Thorpe grabbed a loose puck behind the net, brought it out in front and jammed in his own rebound for his first career Canada West goal.
Just after a UBC power play expired early in the second period,
Jack Wismer scored his first of the season to tie the game at two. Thorpe made a nice backhand pass out front to Wismer who was able to get a quick shot away in the low slot.
Seven minutes into the second, the T-Birds took their first lead of the game when
Sasha Mutala scored his third of the season. Thornton turned aside a
Jonathan Smart shot from the left faceoff dot but Mutala was quick onto the rebound.
Smart himself scored his third of the campaign 4:09 into the final frame to give UBC their first multi-goal lead of the weekend.
Scott Atkinson won an offensive zone faceoff right back to Smart who worked the puck down low and beat Thornton from a sharp angle, just between his blocker and the post.
The Bisons put Thornton on the bench with more than two-and-a-half minutes left in an attempt to claw out of their two goal deficit but
Tian Rask made that hole even deeper when he hit the empty net for his third.
Both teams scored once on the man advantage. Despite allowing the one Bisons power play tally, the 'Birds killed off the other five to keep their Canada West leading penalty kill at a remarkable 94.1 percent.
"The PK is looking really good," complimented Butenschon. "Guys know their role and they're playing the penalty kill with pride. They're really listening to the game plan, they're blocking shots, and it's a real selfless role some of the guys have. It's not always glamourous but you need that to win a championship and so far the guys have really bought in."
Thorpe finished the game with a goal and an assist and was dangerous the entire game.
"He's building, every game he's getting better and better. There were some moments tonight where he really took over the game with his speed and his strength on the puck, especially down low."
Now at 6-0 for the second time in the last three seasons, the T-Birds head to Langley Thursday night for the first half of a home-and-home with the Trinity Western Spartans which concludes Saturday afternoon at Father David Bauer Arena.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available online and both games will be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
