VANCOUVER – Undefeated in 2023 and riding an eight game win streak – their longest in 33 years – the UBC Thunderbirds have their eyes fully focussed on a key home-and-home series with their cross-town rival Trinity Western Spartans starting Thursday night in Langley, and culminating Friday at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre for the return of the much-anticipated Winter Classic.
Having already locked up a Canada West playoff spot, the T-Birds – who have outscored their opponents by a 36-13 margin during their current streak – are just one win away from claiming a home-ice berth for the third time in the last four seasons.
While the Spartans have already had their playoff hopes dashed, there's little doubt they'd like nothing more than to deny the T-Birds anything more than they've already earned.
"The good thing is there's so much to play for," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon who has no concerns about his team's readiness for both games this week. "We're in striking distance of some teams ahead of us so we've always just said let's take care of our end of things and we can scoreboard watch after, and with four games left we're running out of time."
The 'Birds head into the penultimate week of the regular season just one point back of the third place Mount Royal Cougars and six points clear of fifth place Saskatchewan.
Along with much-improved overall defensive results in the second half of the season, the T-Birds are also getting scoring from throughout the lineup. Three different forwards –
Scott Atkinson,
Chris Douglas, and
Josh Williams – have boasted five point games within the last two weeks, while 13 different skaters picked up at least a point during last weekend's sweep over the Griffins in Edmonton.
"We've never had depth up front like this before," said Butenschon. "That was starting in training camp, something we've talked about and pretty much all year we've played four lines because we need everybody feeling good about coming to the rink and contributing and having a role to play in the team's success. It's not easy, some of these guys are used to playing a lot more in junior and getting a lot more power play time and now we're asking them to play a little bit less out there for the sacrifice of the team success."
That team success is hitting new heights for the program as far as the regular season is concerned with the 'Birds on pace for their highest point total in recent history.
But that doesn't mean there's still not room for improvement and items to tinker with as the playoffs draw ever closer.
"We're still not satisfied with where we are and with four games left we're just asking every individual to elevate their game a little bit as we're entering playoffs," added Butenschon who pointed to last Friday's comeback overtime win as evidence of key experiences still being gained by a young group. "I thought our second period on Friday night was our worst period of the year, and then to come out in the third period and show what we can do…and win in overtime and you realize 'holy smokes that's what it takes to win and whatever we did in the second period, our season will end very quickly if we play like that.' I think it helped for Saturday just realizing OK, can we play three periods the way we finished last night."
Thursday night in Langley will mark the final road game of the regular season with Friday's Winter Classic providing a huge emotional boost at a key time.
"I'm just excited to see the faces of the players who haven't experienced it yet because it is different, it's so loud, it's so much energy in the building, it's a real special night.
Puck drop Thursday, February 2 at the Langley Events Centre is set for 7:00 p.m. PT with Friday night's Winter Classic at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre also scheduled for 7:00.
Tickets for the big event Friday are still on sale and both games will be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
