LANGLEY, B.C. – After frittering away a three goal lead, the UBC Thunderbirds stormed back with a three-goal final period to earn a 6-3 win over the Trinity Western Spartans Thursday night at the Langley Events Centre.

Sasha Mutala completed his first career Canada West hat trick to kick off the dominant third period with the game winner just 60 seconds into the frame while Brett Mirwald made 16 saves for his second straight win, extending UBC's win streak to seven games.

"I was really impressed with their performance," said UBC head coach, Sven Butenschon, of the Spartans who battled back to even the score after taking on some early water. "Even after the first period, we were up a few there but me and (assistant coaches Matt Revel and Kevin Seibel) were just talking about how impressed we were with how hard they played. We got a couple good bounces and then sure enough we make a few mistakes in the second and they make us pay. Even though we made some pretty blatant, bad mistakes, credit them for executing and burying their chances – all of a sudden we find ourselves in a game. Then we went out there and played the way we're capable of and when we play like that, teams just can't handle us."



In an opening period that saw the T-Birds (11-5-1) dominate puck possession, Mutala scored twice within a four-minute span to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. His first of the night and fifth of the season came off a weak Spartans (2-14-1) clearing attempt held in the zone by Kayden Sadhra-Kang. The rookie defenceman's point shot was deflected by Jake Wright which was stopped by Trinity starter Leon Sommer, but the rebound bounced right over to Mutala who had a wide open net.

Another Spartans turnover in their own zone saw Ty Thorpe collect the puck in the slot, feed it to the left side for Mutala who was left alone in front, roofing the puck over Sommer's right shoulder.

Starting the second period on the power play, the T-Birds extended their lead to 3-0 just moments after the man advantage expired with Huo's ninth of the season. Conner McDonald made a stretch feed up to Josh Williams who found Huo behind the Spartans' D, sniping post-and-in past Sommer.



But the rest of the middle frame belonged to the Spartans who scored three straight to tie the game heading into the final period.

Christian Lowe's eighth of the season got TWU on the board with a power play marker at 4:31. Less than 90 seconds later the Spartans cut UBC's lead to one on a late-breaking odd man rush, Connor Farren redirecting the puck from the back door on a feed from Lowe.

Another T-Birds defensive zone gaffe led to Luke Spadafora's tying marker at 18:38 giving the game an entirely new feeling heading into the final period.

A regrouped 'Birds squad came out guns a blazing to start the third, their early pressure paying off as Mutala completed the hat trick. Wright fed the puck out front and Mutala went far-side blocker to restore UBC's lead on what turned out to be the game winner.



Huo scored his second of the night to put the 'Birds up by two at the 5:38 mark. While Carson Latimer drove to the net, Huo slowed up near the hashmarks and wristed the puck shortside, just inside the post as the third-year forward has now hit double digits in goals for the third straight season.

Outshooting the Spartans 12-6 in the final 20 minutes – and 43-19 over the course of the game – Jack Wismer sealed the deal by hitting the empty net with 66 seconds remaining with his third of the campaign.

"We just came out on a mission with a sense of urgency," said Butenschon of his team's dominant third period. "A bit of a wake-up call there after the second and then holy smokes with Thorpy, Wrighter and Muttsy there setting the tone, getting a quick one. They could have had a few more tonight but their goalie played great. When you go out there early in a period and you set the tone and the next line goes out there they want to do the same. So, it was a great effort by the Thorpe line to get us going in the third and all the lines chipped in."
 

?? MHKY | Former @TCAmericans forward Sasha Mutala scored his 1st career @CanadaWest hat trick, leading the T-Birds to a 6-3 win over the Spartans Thursday night in Langley pic.twitter.com/Wa1gTSs5M2

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) December 6, 2024

Earning his second win in as many starts in his former home building at the Langley Events Centre, former Vancouver Giant Brett Mirwald wasn't overly busy, but was there when called upon.

"He looked great. He's another guy that's kind of really showed us something in practice. Our goalie coach is giving us lots of positive feedback on what he's seeing as well so I love to see it. Unfortunately we don't play that many games in our league so practices really matter. For Mirsy, it's starting in practice and you're seeing it in the games, you're seeing him play with confidence. He hasn't had any luck, he hasn't had any bounces but it hasn't really affected him and I'm seeing a guy who's really been challenged mentally and he's rising to the occasion."

The T-Birds now have the chance to enter the December break on an eight game win streak if they can come up with another two points in Friday night's back half of the home-and-home series. Another victory over the Spartans would also allow UBC to head into 2025 alone atop the West Division.

Puck drop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online and the game will also be streamed live on Canada West TV.