MONTREAL – For the second time in program history, the UBC Thunderbirds have claimed U SPORTS bronze after a rollercoaster 3-2 win over the host Université de Montréal Carabins Sunday afternoon at CEPSUM Arena.
With the T-Birds leading 2-0 heading into the third, the Carabins came out flying to start the final period. The tournament hosts got the crowd whipped into a frenzy after scoring twice within a three minute span to tie the game by the 7:23 mark.
But the blue and gold were able to slowly get some added puck possession as the period wore on, leading up to
Ireland Perrott's game winner with just 3:14 remaining in the graduating senior's final game as a Thunderbird.
"The resilience of this group to stay in when their team pushed back so hard in the third period. They have a dangerous, quick transition and they came and brought it to us," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas who secured his second national bronze and first medal since 2017. "So for us to be able to recover ourselves, take a deep breath and push back was incredible."
Despite having more rest and the home crowd behind them, the Carabins were on their back feet from the opening faceoff as UBC had the ice mostly tilted in their favour in the opening 20 minutes.
The 'Birds didn't take long to capitalize either, with
Annalise Wong scoring on the power play just 2:44 in. The second-year forward fired the puck from the point and past Carabins goaltender Aube Racine with
Grace Elliott providing the screen.
UBC doubled their lead 7:45 into the second when
Mackenzie Kordic batted the puck out of mid-air for her first of the tournament.
Grace Elliott deflected a
Kennesha Miswaggon shot on Racine. Kordic was right in front and shot a rebound off Racine's left pad before batting it in on a second effort.
While the T-Birds owned much of the first, the same could be said of the Carabins in the third. Justine Pelletier fired a quick shot past the glove of
Kate Stuart after receiving a pretty between the legs, back hand pass from Laurie-Anne Ethier.
Smelling life, Montreal kept the pedal down and secured the tying goal when Jessika Boulanger backhanded a loose puck behind Stuart into the back of the net.
Just as overtime seemed more and more likely, Perrott restored the T-Birds lead when she popped home her own rebound. Perrott deflected a Miswaggon point shot which Racine stopped but Perrott was able to quickly get to her forehand and slip the puck in.
The Carabins had plenty of late pressure with the extra attacker but some key saves from Stuart and timely clears allowed the 'Birds to hang on. Stuart finished the game with 20 saves and was named UBC's player of the game.
"It just wouldn't have felt right if we walked away from here without anything after the amazing season we had," added Thomas. "I'm just so proud of this group. We just got to get re-focussed and get ready for next year already. I know this group's going to be hungry but we want to celebrate this now and celebrate our seniors."
The game marks the first ever victory for the T-Birds over the Carabins in five tries. Some of the team's most devastating losses have come at the hands of Montreal, including the 2016 U SPORTS Final.
"It was a little extra special beating them for our alumni, for our supporters, for our seniors against Montreal in their home rink, and that's not easy to do. It definitely is a special one."
