VANCOUVER –
Brayden Schuurman completed his first career Canada West hat trick while
Brendan Gee made 20 saves to earn his first conference win in goal as the UBC Thunderbirds (3-1) earned a resounding 4-1 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans (0-3-1) to complete the weekend sweep and head into a bye week on a three game win streak.
Following Friday night's 6-5 overtime win in Langley, the T-Birds played a far more structured game while pushing the pace right from the opening faceoff. And if not for some solid play by TWU goaltender Steven Bacovksy and his 39 saves, the score could have very well been even more lopsided.
"I think it was our most energetic game, it was our most intense game," said UBC head coach,
Sven Butenschon. "It was our most physical game – not necessarily bodychecks – but just getting involved. 50/50 pucks, faceoffs, all of that, we were so engaged tonight and it just kind of carried over into the flow of the game."
In a game where starting on time is critically important, the 'Birds took that to a new level Saturday afternoon at Father Bauer Arena, scoring in the opening minute of each period.
Schuurman's first goal of the night came just 29 seconds after the opening faceoff. The second-year transfer cut to the slot and sniped glove-side past Bacovsky for his fourth goal in as many games.
T-Birds captain
Ty Thorpe doubled the lead 39 seconds into the second, deflecting a Schuurman point shot on the power play.
Schuurman needed just 19 seconds from the third period puck drop to net his second of the game, one-timing a
Josh Williams feed for the 3-0 UBC advantage.
Less than two minutes later, Schuurman intercepted an errant Spartans pass in the neutral zone, dished off to Williams who set up his linemate once again for a glorious finish in tight to complete the hat trick and a four-point night.
"He's an elite skater and he can separate," said Butenschon of Schuurman's outstanding start to his Thunderbird career. "NHL scouts talk a lot about separation speed and he has that separation speed. You can't give him much time and space because he's also got a great shot and great hands. I think just his speed alone allows him to finish plays and create more."
Trinity's lone goal of the game came with less than five minutes on the clock, Lleyton Shearon scoring on a shorthanded rush, ending Gee's shutout bid, the only one of 21 TWU shots to get by him in his regular season debut.
"I loved his whole vibe in the net. He's very calm and confident and really smart with his movements, just really sound."
A frustrating game for the Spartans boiled over in the dying minutes of the game to the tune of several misconducts and a five minute major cross-checking penalty assessed to Nicco Camazzola.
"You know you're having an effective game when the other team is spending so much time yelling and having temper tantrums and taking penalties, so that's a credit to the boys for playing in your face hockey and being relentless and not giving them a chance to breathe."
Since suffering a season opening loss to the Bisons, the 'Birds have now strung together three in a row and get to enjoy a bye week before returning to action Friday, October 30 at home to the Saskatchewan Huskies.
