VANCOUVER – It was an offensive showcase Saturday afternoon at Father Bauer Arena as the UBC Thunderbirds (12-1-1) completed the weekend sweep of the Alberta Golden Bears (7-6-1) with an 8-4 victory which also clinched the season series over their west division rivals.

T-Birds captain Chris Douglas completed his fifth career four-point game while his long-time linemate, Scott Atkinson, earned his 100^th Canada West Point, just a day after Douglas met the same milestone.

Nicholas Jones stopped 20 shots to collect his first win between the pipes in the blue and gold while seven T-Bird skaters managed multiple points as UBC's lead atop the division expanded to ten points.



"We played a very similar game (to Friday), we just had the elite finishing plays," said UBC head coach, Sven Butenschon, following his team's fourth win over Alberta in as many games this season. "Execution around the net, getting to rebounds, getting to inside position on their defencemen – it kind of paid off, all the stuff that we work on during the week at practice. We did it yesterday in a more of a tight checking game but today, what can you say when it's Douglas on the power play, ripping that shot and the execution in all situations, it was just great to see."

The T-Birds blew the doors off the Alberta crease with five goals in the opening period. Douglas' eighth of the season at 3:17 broke the ice with Atkinson earning the primary assist to hit the century mark.

Jake Wright doubled UBC's lead at 13:43 with his seventh of the campaign before Sam Popowich cut the 'Birds' lead in half on the power play.

But the 'Birds silenced Alberta's bench with three goals in 1:14 to take the four-goal lead into the break. Douglas' second of the game came on the man advantage at the 17:14 mark followed by Ty Thorpe's sixth of the season 40 seconds later.
 

?? MHKY | Captain Chris Douglas kicks off a FIVE goal first period for the T-Birds as Scott Atkinson collects his 100th @CanadaWest point on the primary assist! UBC with the 5-1 lead over the Bears thru 20 minutes ?? pic.twitter.com/FBvKEgSSH7

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) November 22, 2025

Rookie Reilley Kotai took advantage of a Bears' defensive zone turnover to snipe his fifth at 18:28, capping off the dominant frame.

After allowing the five UBC goals on 17 shots, Alberta starting netminder Drew Sim was replaced by Ethan Kruger to begin the second period.

Marcus Pacheco got Alberta within three with his second of the season early in the middle frame, but the rally was short-lived as Atkinson responded just over a minute later with his sixth of the season, deflecting a Douglas shot in front.

Josh Williams got in on the action to give UBC a 7-3 lead at the 13:40 mark with his fourth of the season.



Gleb Tkach and Sasha Mutala traded goals late in the period as the 'Birds took a five goal advantage into the third.

Jayden Joly scored just 29 seconds into the final period for what turned out to be the final tally of the game, the remaining 19:31 somehow played without a goal.

Led by Douglas' four point afternoon, the T-Bird captain's line with Mutala and Atkinson finished with a combined nine points.

"They're pros in all areas, on and off the ice," Butenschon said of the trio. "Putting Mutala with those two guys, I think Muttsy loves playing with them because he knows where they're going, they're predictable, they're very straight line kind of players and it just works well, the three of them, what they all bring to the table. Mutala had Sam Huo for all his junior career and first few years here and now he's gone so I think it's gotten Muttsy a little bit out of his normal kind of game. He's learning to play more of a complete game, just different aspects of how to contribute, not just scoring."

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Now up by ten points on the Golden Bears and 11 on the third place MacEwan Griffins, halfway through the season the T-Birds have a stranglehold on the west division now with just two weeks of action remaining in the 2025 portion of the season.

"There's still lots of hockey, the real important games come in February and March. We'll enjoy tonight while we can, we'll look at the standings and feel good about it for a day or two, but Saskatchewan, they ended our season last year so this is an important weekend for us."

The 'Birds indeed travel to Saskatoon next weekend for their only weekend series of the season with the 8-3-1 Huskies. The Golden Bears are back on the west coast to visit the Trinity Western Spartans, Alberta looking to snap a three-game skid.