SASKATOON, Sask. – The Canada West will have a new Men's Hockey champion this spring as the UBC Thunderbirds suffered a 4-2 loss in game three of the conference semifinal to the host Saskatchewan Huskies Sunday night at Merlis Belsher Place.

Trailing 2-0 after a tremendous opening period by the Huskies, the T-Birds twice clawed back within a goal. A clutch tally by Cyle McNabb with nine seconds left in the second had the 'Birds with momentum behind them and down 3-2 to start the third. But a penalty filled final frame saw the Huskies score on the power play to double their lead which they nursed to the finish line.

It was a gutsy performance by the 'Birds in as tightly fought a series as they come, but ultimately the Huskies gained confidence as the weekend wore on and will now have the opportunity to clinch their first conference title since they defeated UBC back in 2020.



The Huskies played by far their best period of the series to begin game three.

Parker Gavlas opened scoring at the 11:57 mark off a quick transition play. After a Sam Huo scoring chance was thwarted by Jordan Kooy, the Huskies quickly moved up ice with Dawson Holt and Gavlas coming in on a 2-on-1. Holt feathered a cross-ice feed to Gavlas who held and outwaited Cole Schwebius for his first of the playoffs.

Less than three minutes later, Holt tallied himself, off yet another Huskies odd-man rush, backhanding the puck past Schwebius for his first of the series.

Following a much stronger start to the second, T-Bird captain Chris Douglas got the visitors on the board midway through the frame with his first of the playoffs, carrying the puck into the Huskies zone and sniping far side past Kooy.



The two sides traded goals before the period was out, Trevor Wong taking advantage of a breakaway for his first while McNabb cut the lead back to one with just nine seconds on the clock. A heavy forecheck paid dividends for UBC as McNabb intercepted a clearing attempt and scored on his own rebound to give the 'Birds some renewed life heading into the break.

Instead of momentum driving the bus forward for UBC, penalty troubles halted the turning of the tide with the Huskies given four power plays in the final 20 minutes. The T-Birds penalty kill was terrific, but ultimately was tested too much as Saskatchewan doubled their lead on Chantz Petruic's third goal of the series, on the man advantage at the 12:49 mark.

The 'Birds continued to press and despite spending nearly half the period on the kill, outshot the Huskies by an 11-9 margin in the third. Schwebius was sent to the bench for the extra attacker with two-and-a-half minutes on the clock; UBC managed to maintain plenty of puck possession but couldn't manage to slip one, let alone two, past Kooy who finished the night with 33 saves.



Saskatchewan will now host the Mount Royal Cougars for the Canada West Final next week while also earning a berth to the upcoming University Cup.

For the T-Birds, Sunday marked the final game for graduating seniors Conner McDonald, Tian Rask, Jack Wismer and Dorrin Luding, while the rest of a veteran heavy group will have a longer off-season than they had anticipated heading into the 2025-26 campaign.