VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (9-0) remain undefeated after skating to a 2-0 win over the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons (1-5-1-2), on Friday at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Fifth-year Thunderbird Grace Elliott (1G) continued her torrid scoring pace, tallying the eventual game-winner 37 seconds into the second-period while fifth-year goaltender Elise Hugens earned the shutout for the home side.

"Some players can think too much, or put too much pressure on themselves, or not enough pressure, just to follow-up a record-breaking season." T-Birds Head Coach said of Elliott, the reigning USPORTS player of the year. "But she's taking it in stride, just going to play, having fun, playing loose, (and) competing hard."

After tilting the ice in their favour for most of the first-period, UBC finally solved Bisons goalie, Emily Shippam (24 saves) early in the second frame. Elliott finished off a pretty passing play with linemates Annalise Wong (1A), and Vanessa Schaefer (1A) to open the scoring. Elliott has scored in four-straight games, leading all Canada West skaters with nine goals this season. The White Rock, BC product is tied with Wong for the conference scoring lead (12 points).



The T-Birds continue to receive stellar goaltending as Hugens (11 saves) made key saves when needed, including robbing Manitoba forward Julia Bird on a breakaway. Hugens earned her conference-leading third shutout, in just her fifth game played this season. With sixty-three wins in her decorated U SPORTS career, Hugens will tie the UBC program record of sixty-four with her next victory.



Although UBC's powerplay continues to struggle, going 0-for-4 on Friday, their penalty kill (3/3) has been outstanding. Third-year T-Bird Hannah Perrier (1G) tallied a short-handed insurance goal in the second-period, her first goal of the season. UBC leads the conference with four short-handed goals this season after recording five short-handed markers in the entirety of the 2024-2025 campaign.

"We've got a great PK group, good speed, a lot of talent, and (we're) just kind of letting them go," added coach Thomas. "They're, making some really nice plays and burying, and it's fun to watch."



The Thunderbirds will look to complete the weekend sweep in Saturday afternoon's grudge match versus Manitoba. However, after a few mental errors in Friday's game, UBC will have to re-focus if they want to extend their win-streak to double-digits.

"I think we can't let complacency set in, and I could see, it's starting to set in a little bit set in tonight, and we got away with it." Coach Thomas said of his team grinding out a ninth-consecutive win.

Puck drop between the Bisons and T-Birds is set for 2:00 p.m. PT at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, and available to stream on Canada West TV.