VANCOUVER – A wild third period saw a late comeback bid fell short as the UBC Thunderbirds saw their 2022-23 Canada West season come to an end with a 6-3 loss to the Alberta Golden Bears in game three of their semifinal series Sunday night at Clare Drake Arena.

Down 3-1 heading into the final frame, the 'Birds battled hard but only saw the gap grow wider with Jared Freadrich's first of the playoffs with nine minutes to go. Scott Atkinson scored short handed to pull UBC back within two with less than five minutes to go only to have the Bears answer back later on the power play.

Tian Rask once again pulled the 'Birds within a pair of goals, scoring with the extra attacker, but Justin Hall hit the empty net as Alberta will defend their Canada West title next weekend against the Calgary Dinos while the T-Birds will head home and regroup for what will be a longer off-season than they planned for.



For the first time in the series, the hosts opened scoring when Adam Hall hammered a one-timer from the slot over Kaeden Lane's left shoulder for his first of the playoffs with four minutes remaining in the first.

Just 3:23 into the second, Jordan Sandhu pulled the T-Birds even with his first of the playoffs, sniping far side past Ethan Kruger after a deceptive drop pass from Jonathan Smart.

The Bears appeared to respond just a few minutes later, but a Nolan Volcan shot in tight went off the cross bar and clearly stayed out despite the referee initially indicating a goal.



Just moments after the goal reversal, the T-Birds appeared to take their first lead of the night on a Chris Douglas deflection which was also initially ruled a goal, but after an officials conference it was determined to be a high stick and the game remained tied 1-1.

Alberta scored for real with 6:18 remaining in the second when Wyatt McLeod popped home a rebound in front after Lane stopped an Eric Florchuk shot and no one was able to clear the puck.

In a deflating moment for the T-Birds, the Bears took their first multi-goal lead of the series with just 19 seconds left in the second with yet another power play tally, their fourth in the last two games. Josh Prokop blasted a one-timer on a give-and-go play with Dawson Davidson for his first of the playoffs, sending the 'Birds to the break facing a major uphill battle.



With 5:13 left in the third, the T-Birds got some major life from Atkinson who scored, shorthanded, on a beautiful snipe for his fifth of the playoffs pulling back within a pair. But the 'Birds weren't able to complete the kill with Adam Hall restoring the three-goal lead less than a minute later.

Lane headed to the bench for the extra attacker with four minutes remaining and the early gamble paid dividends quickly as Tian Rask deflected a Liam Kindree shot for his second to once again get back within two, still with three-and-a-half to go.

The hole turned out to be too deep and Justin Hall hit the empty net with 88 seconds left to give Alberta some extra breathing room as the Bears advanced to a second straight Canada West Final while UBC misses out on a third straight trip to the conference banner series as well as the national championship.



Special teams were a major factor again Sunday with the Bears scoring two power play goals on three chances while the 'Birds went 0-for-3, finishing the series without a goal on the man advantage.

While the T-Birds lick their wounds, the vast majority of this year's breakout lineup will return in the fall with only Jordan Sandhu being lost to graduation. Finishing the regular season with new program records in points, wins, and consecutive wins, 2022-23 was another major step forward for the team which continues to show promise of accomplishing even greater things in the near future.