EDMONTON – Fifth-year forward Joelle Fiala played hero scoring the game winning goal with 39 seconds left in regulation to lift the visiting UBC Thunderbirds past the Alberta Pandas 3-2 in each teams Canada West season opener Friday night at Clare Drake Arena.
 
It promised to be a close battle between two veteran groups, the top two regular season teams from last year and the number one (UBC) and third (Alberta) ranked squads in the conference heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
 
After a very even opening frame that saw each team register seven shots but no goals it was the T-Birds that stepped up to dominate the second period territorially, outshooting the hosts 23-3 but only coming out with a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Third-year forward Grace Elliott opened the scoring for the 'Birds just over a minute into the stanza, whirring a wrist shot high glove side past Pandas goalie Halle Oswald, Fiala, the recipient of a stellar slot feed off the rush from Jacquelyn Fleming who created room by racing down the left wing.
 
Just over three minutes later UBC's leading scorer from last season, Chanreet Bassi followed up by finding the back of the net on the power play to give the 'Birds a 2-0 advantage. While the Pandas struggled to contain a ferocious visiting attack, as well as maintaining discipline taking four penalties in the frame, they were able to steal one back when Mia Ehmann scored with five minutes left to send the game into the second intermission at 2-1 T-Birds.



Halfway through the third period, Morden was able to knot the game at 2 off a great pass from Ehmann that was able to beat the UBC netminder Elise Hugens, who stopped 23 of 25 shots on the night. However, with just 40 seconds left in regulation Fiala slotted a beautiful shot past Oswald for the game winner, and sent UBC home with a 3-2 victory.
 
Oswald the busier of the two goalies on the night was solid for the hosts in turning aside 33 of 36 shots from the T-Birds. Captain, Rylind MacKinnon led the way with six shots for UBC while Bassi finished with five shots on goal to go along with her first marker of the young season and an assist on the opening tally of the contest.

The teams return to action Saturday at Clare Drake Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.