After a 2-2 start to the season, the UBC Thunderbirds have now won four straight games, rising to second place in both the Canada West standings and in the U SPORTS national rankings.

The T-Birds are coming off two big road wins over Alberta, who were ranked as high as #6 in the country before UBC came to town last weekend. They certainly had to work hard for their victories in Edmonton, but Thunderbirds head coach Graham Thomas is pleased with how his team is progressing through the early stages of the season.

"It felt more like us, the last few weeks here," said Thomas. "We've got a lot of things to work on, and a lot of things to improve upon, but it just has a better feel with how things are operating with the group – the energy, the execution…it feels like we're starting to figure some things out."
 

Elise Hugens led the Thunderbirds to a weekend sweep setting a program record Friday night by recording a 28 save shutout (17th career) and picking up her 44th career win.

Conceding just the one goal on 63 shots, Hugens finished the weekend with a .984 save percentage. pic.twitter.com/D7Msk2iaZV

— UBC Women's Hockey (@UBCWHKY) October 29, 2024

Now, UBC gets to play their next four games at home, beginning with a two-game series against MacEwan on Friday, November 1st, and Saturday, November 2nd.

Goalkeeper Elise Hugens enters the weekend in fine form, fresh off being named the Canada West Player of the Week. The fourth-year player has stopped 76 of the last 77 shots she's faced.

Up front, Grace Elliott is tied for the Canada West points lead with nine, including two goals and two assists over her last three games. Six T-Birds have multiple goals so far this season, including second-year defender Jaylyn Morris who has three goals and three assists.

Looking at their opponents for this weekend, the Griffins have struggled so far this year. They've picked up just three points from their first six games, although they do stand as the only team to have beaten Regina through the first month of the season.



The Thunderbirds have won eight straight against MacEwan, but despite that (and the current winning streak in Canada West play), Thomas cautioned about anyone getting too far ahead of themselves.

"We can't go in and think it's going to be easy," added Thomas. "Any team in this league can win on any given night, so we need to come out ready to go…the rest will take care of itself if we stick to the process."

Both of the games this weekend take place at Father David Bauer Arena. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7:00 p.m. (PT). The two teams then take to the ice once again at 3:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.