VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds posted their second consecutive 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon to earn a weekend sweep over the visiting Regina Cougars at historic Father Bauer Arena.

Following UBC's Home Opener, which saw the T-Birds raise the 2023 Canada West Championship banner into the rafters, the blue and gold continued their winning ways with a convincing victory.

The T-Birds (3-0-1) struck just 39 seconds into the game as fourth-year forward Mackenzie Kordic took a pass from teammate Cassidy Rhodes and sniped a low shot past Cougars goalie Arden Kliewer.

"I love to shoot low-blocker, low-glove sometimes, but that's my favourite shot," Kordic said of picking her spot. The veteran forward recorded 5 points (3G, 2A) this weekend and with 6 points (4G, 2A) in four games, Kordic is tied for first in the early season Canada West scoring race.



Just a minute after UBC scored, however, the Cougars (0-3-1) responded. Kaitlyn Gilroy caused a turnover on the forecheck and threaded a pass to teammate Jordyn Blais who buried her first career U SPORTS goal. However, it would prove to be Regina's lone tally in the game.

Head Coach Graham Thomas and the UBC coaching staff must've given a rousing speech in the first intermission, as the T-Birds launched an offensive barrage in the second period. Holding the balance of the attack from the start of the frame, forward Grace Elliott tipped a Sierra LaPlante point shot to give UBC a 2-1 lead at the 7:34 mark.

Fourth-year transfer Makenzie McCallum then notched her first goal in a T-Birds uniform with linemates Olivia Buckley and Hanna Perrier creating the play off of a tough forecheck. Rookie Hanna Perrier recorded her first-career U SPORTS point assisting on the goal.



Joelle Fiala was up next as Annalise Wong fed a perfect pass to the fifth-year forward. Fiala found the top shelf for her second goal of the young season.

McCallum scored her second of the game by using her speed to create a chance that ended up bouncing off Regina defender Shelby Rublee and past Kliewer. The goal was UBC's fourth of the period, ultimately putting the game out of reach.

Madisyn Wiebe added a third period goal for her second of the season to extend UBC's lead to 6-1.

"We are going to come at you in waves, and you don't know who's going to score the goal and what line it's going to come from," added Thomas. "That's a major strength of ours. Other teams can't really key-in on one line to shut us down."



Third-year goalie Kayla McDougall posted her first U SPORTS win in net, recording nine saves in her first career start. 

"As a coach it's a proud moment when you see an athlete be as patient as she's been, and work as hard as she has," said Thomas.

Next up the T-Birds will head to Winnipeg to face the University of Manitoba Bisons (0-2-0) next weekend.