The No. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds host the Calgary Dinos this Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, for the final weekend of the Canada West regular season, needing just two points to secure first place in the conference and home ice throughout the playoffs.
Riding a 12 game win streak, the T-Birds (23-2-1) also have the opportunity to meet their own record for points in a single season, set just last year, with the prospect of also achieving a new high water mark for wins.
But as nice as those accolades would be, the focus for the team is on remaining consistent, and heading into the post-season playing the right way.
"We're so close (to clinching first) and it's one of our goals that we'd like to achieve, but it's also about continuing to build on our game," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "This is the last dress rehearsal to tweak things with the lineup, so that's going to be a main focus with only two games left to do that."
The Dinos (8-16-2) have already been eliminated from post-season contention, but will certainly be intent on spoiling UBC's party. Despite Calgary's disappointing season, they've managed to take three points off the T-Birds in their previous four meetings, a shootout loss in the season opener in addition to an overtime win on November 16 – the last time anyone managed to secure a win against the defending conference champions.
"They'll want to play the spoiler, they'll want to come in and finish hard," Thomas said. "Being able to beat us or take us down would be big for them and something that will fire them up. They're not going to be easy, they can play with the best teams in the league. They've just struggled with a little bit of consistency but they're a very good team and we definitely can't take them lightly."
Prior to puck drop on Saturday, UBC will honour their six graduating seniors, all of whom have been major contributors to one of the most impressive eras in Canada West women's hockey history.
Chanreet Bassi,
Mackenzie Kordic,
Kennesha Miswaggon,
Kasundra Betinol,
Makenzie McCallum and captain
Sierra LaPlante are all set to play in their final regular season series for the blue and gold.
"It's not just about their achievements but also the people they have become. Kennesha, Bassi, Kordic – it's incredible the different human beings they are and how much they've matured and grown in their six years here. We want to finish off this year the best we can for them, give them an amazing playoff run here and go as far as we possibly can in honour of them."
"Even for Betinol for being her first year here, she's seamlessly come in and been an impact in the room positively and on the ice, just amazing character and a great leader as well. Same with Makenzie the last few years, she's been tremendous as an athlete and as a person, pushing everybody. Sierra, our captain, has really elevated her game the last few years but especially this year. The impact she's made off the ice, the culture piece; but on the ice she's been a reliable defenceman that can play two ways and has really stepped up her game."
The T-Birds have already secured first place in the West Division, earning a bye through the quarter-finals, but sit two points back of the East Division leading Pandas for first overall. With Alberta having already played their final game of the season and on a bye this week, a win Friday night would clinch first for UBC with the 'Birds holding the tiebreaker over their Edmonton rivals.
Puck drop Friday at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 7:00 p.m. with Saturday's senior game, and final regular season contest, scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Tickets for both games are available online now and both will be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
