VANCOUVER – With just two more games remaining in the calendar year, the No. 1 nationally-ranked UBC Thunderbirds have the opportunity to truly take a stranglehold on their division lead with a pair of games against Trinity Western.
Sitting just ahead of Alberta in second place in the West Division, the Spartans are 8-7-1, 13 points behind the 15-1-0 T-Birds. With a game in Langley on Friday, December 5, and then one in Vancouver on Saturday, December 6, UBC head coach
Graham Thomas wants his team to bring their A game to finish off the first semester.
"This is huge, I think our biggest focus is just on bringing our best to close," he said. "We need to focus on us and close it out right. There are huge points, huge wins up for grabs, and we need to be performing and continuing to build."
While his team has won all but one game so far this campaign, Thomas isn't solely focused on the final results as the barometer for success. He feels his team has another gear they can reach, and wants to keep working hard to get there.
"I think we've been playing too inconsistent – we've not been getting enough O-zone time and also playing a bit too much on the perimeter," he added. "The strength of this team is our depth, and we need to be able to roll with everyone contributing because that's when we're at our best."
The Thunderbirds have had multiple record-breaking nights already this season, and could get another one this weekend as
Grace Elliott is currently tied for most career Canada West points in program history (116). After already breaking the program record for goals earlier in the fall, the fifth-year forward will have two opportunities to better the points mark before the winter break.
Elliott has been the top play finisher in Canada West this season, leading the conference with 15 goals in 16 games. She's been clutch as well – eight of those 15 goals are game-winners, including the winning goal in both of UBC's triumphs last week over Saskatchewan. Her tally in Saturday's 1-0 home victory broke the conference's all-time record for most game-winners in a single regular season (since 2004-05), previously held by the great Hayley Wickenheiser.
"To have 15 goals already this year is very impressive," remarked Thomas. "She's scored some big goals for us – like eight game-winning goals, that's crazy. She's very humble and wants to keep working hard, doesn't focus on the stats and I think that's what's helped lead to her success.
"At the same time, we need secondary scoring and players stepping up. The whole team can't rely on Grace and her line scoring and saving the day. We have to recognize how great she is and support her the best we can, but it's also going to give her some more breathing room too when our other lines are big threats and then teams have to give different matchups and such."
One of Elliott's regular linemates is
Vanessa Schaefer, a second-year standout who will not be staying in town for the winter break. Rather, she will be flying out to Finland immediately following this weekend's action to join up with the Swiss National Team for their upcoming Euro Hockey Tour tournament.
As a precursor to the Olympics in February, Schaefer will have the chance to impress the Switzerland coaching staff at the tournament, and will fight to earn a spot on their Olympic roster.
Should she make the cut, Schaefer would be the first UBC Women's Hockey player to ever play at the Olympics.
"We wish her the best, she's really had a great year and brings a lot to our team," said Thomas. "Her speed, her fitness, her shot and her instincts will hopefully get her on that team…getting that experience to play in the Olympics would be amazing for her and would be great representation for our program…it would only benefit her development and her playing career, it's exciting."
Of course, for this week all eyes are focused on the T-Birds' matchups with the Spartans, with Friday's game held at the Langley Events Centre at 1:00 p.m. (PT). The Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre hosts the rematch the following afternoon, at 3:00 p.m. (PT).
CLICK HERE for tickets for the final opportunity to see the T-Birds in action until the new year.
