VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (11-0) proved too much to handle on Friday night as the blue and gold picked up their 11th straight win to open the Canada West campaign, defeating the MacEwan Griffins (2-9-2) 5-1 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre on a night fifth-year
Grace Elliott became the program's all-time goal scoring leader.
Both Elliott and goaltender
Elise Hugens were chasing their own chapters in the history books as Hugens sought to claim a victory that would move her into a tie for first among goaltenders in all-time Canada West wins.
It did not take long for UBC's offence to find its rhythm as
Mia Bierd tapped a pass to herself and went in alone on the break to score the first of the game, rifling a snap shot past Taya Currie less than five minutes into the opening frame.
"This team is so deep and we have been challenging the group on some secondary scoring," head coach
Graham Thomas said. "Mia is part of a senior line that works hard and you can see the chemistry and fun that they are having out there and that's what it's all about."
The Griffins were able to respond with a few rushes of their own, but a penalty charged to Allee Isley sent the T-Birds to the powerplay. With a chance to write her name in the record books, Elliott wired a one-timer for the 62nd goal of her Canada West career.
"What a shot and what a goal to break the record – it was only fitting for Grace to fire it home off a great pass from Annalise (Wong) on the powerplay," Thomas said.
Entering the second frame, the Griffins were determined to get back in the game after being outshot 16-2 in the first period.
MacEwan found its footing thanks to a strong forecheck, which led to some scoring opportunities off turnovers. Under pressure from the Griffins,
Jaylyn Morris was able to sneak a wrist shot past Currie on the powerplay to pad UBC's lead, but the Griffins showed their resilience thanks to a steal and breakaway snipe from Kori Paterson.
Paterson's second of the season brought MacEwan back to within a pair as UBC looked to preserve the lead, ahead 3-1 entering the third period.
MacEwan kept its foot on the gas early in the third, pressing with a tenacious forecheck. UBC was able to weather the storm and drew a series of penalties from the Griffins that allowed the T-Birds to secure all the insurance they would need to close out the game.
After Bierd's second of the game, Elliott tipped home a Morris shot from the point to stretch the lead to four, which proved to be the final marker of the game and the third powerplay goal for a T-Birds squad that now improves to 11-0 on the Canada West season.
Friday's win was the 64th of Hugens' Canada West career, which moves her into a tie with former Bison Stacey Corfield atop the conference's leaderboard.
"Really proud of Elise, who just keeps raising the bar for the younger players – the way she works, stays ready. She didn't face many chances tonight, but she stayed ready and helped us get the win."
The T-Birds close out the weekend series Saturday versus the Griffins with puck drop scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PT at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Tickets are available online and the game will also be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
