TORONTO – The UBC Thunderbirds' historic season came to an early end Friday night with a 3-2 loss to the McGill Redbirds in University Cup quarter-final action at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
Tied 2-2 to begin the third, the T-Birds pressed hard throughout the final period, outshooting McGill by a 14-2 margin. But the only puck to get across the goal line at either end was off the stick of Stephane Huard eight minutes in.
Perhaps UBC's best chance in the third came on a
Ty Thorpe breakaway early on, but Redbirds netminder Alexis Shank denied the rookie forward with one of his 35 saves on the night to keep the game tied before Huard's eventual game winner.
Two of McGill's goals Friday came on their lethal power play. The Redbirds' man advantage was given an early opportunity just past the one minute mark of the opening period. But UBC's Canada West leading penalty kill was up to the task, holding the OUA bronze medallists without a shot.
A fairly evenly played frame started to turn in UBC's favour with some sustained time in the offensive zone.
Josh Williams took advantage of one such shift, popping home a rebound to open scoring at the 14:31 mark.
Sasha Mutala made a centring feed to
Sam Huo who was stopped by Shank but Williams was in perfect position for his second of the post-season.
Despite owning the majority of puck possession and chances in the second period, the T-Birds found themselves trailing 2-1 after a pair of McGill power play tallies.
Xavier Fortin tied the game on a one-time blast off a cross-ice feed by Huard at 6:59. Zachary Gallant then gave the Redbirds their first lead of the game tipping a point shot past
Cole Schwebius.
Immediately after falling behind, the T-Birds responded with several elongated shifts in the McGill zone. Looking to relieve pressure, Shank got a little too much on his clearing attempt and lifted the puck directly out of play, putting UBC on the power play for the second time. After a couple good looks, the man advantage converted to tie the game 2-2 when
Tian Rask deflected a
Liam Kindree shot from the left hashmarks with just under four to play in the period.
Huard's game winner came on a shot from the slot that beat Schwebius, glove side.
The T-Birds went 6-on-5 looking for the tying marker with just under two minutes remaining but just couldn't manage to extend the game.
McGill now advances to face the UQTR Patriotes in a semifinal meeting Saturday evening.
The T-Birds' loss makes it two straight by a single goal at the University Cup after a 2-1 double overtime loss to the Patriotes in 2022.
Friday night's game was also the last in blue and gold for
Jake Kryski and
Ryan Pouliot who along with injured defenceman
Jonathan Smart saw their tremendously impactful Thunderbirds' careers come to a close.
Despite the sting for the T-Birds, they continue to knock on the door and there's no doubt this team will be back at the University Cup in the very near future.
