Much-needed win for UBC

SASKATOON SK - A close, scrappy battle the whole way through, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds came out on top, defeating the No. 1 University of Saskatchewan Huskies 4-3 at Rutherford Rink.

After a close 3-2 game last night, the T-Birds came out hard tonight, needing to improve upon their second last position in Canada West. They scored three powerplay goals in the win.

The Huskies opened up the scoring at 6:34 into the game, on an oh so familiar shorthanded goal. Captain Brent Twordik, on the boards, passed the puck across to Canada West leading scorer Dean Beuker, who backhanded it in past UBC netminder Gerry Festa.

UBC tied it up six and a half minutes later. A deflection out front found left winger Dustin Paul's stick, who then put it past Huskie goalie Thomas Vicars. The Huskies put themselves ahead again three minutes later. Twordik passed it up to Beuker, who then put it across the net to Garett Soparlo for the goal. But with only six seconds left in the period, UBC struck again. Off a pass from Jarrett Winn, Brad Zanon took a slap shot that slipped right by Vicars' pads, bottom right corner.

Tied at two apiece, it was UBC that struck first in the third, at 5:21. On a T-Bird powerplay, Peter Hay found the back of the Huskie net, to give the Thunderbirds their first lead of the night. Rookie Darrell May struck again just over a minute later on another T-Bird powerplay, which was the T-Birds eventual game winning goal. Captain Twordik got the Huskies one more goal, at 11:28 of the period on a Huskie powerplay, but it wasn't enough, as the T-Birds went on to win the game to split the series in Saskatoon.

The Huskies outshot the 'Birds 40-27. The 'Birds were 3/6 on the powerplay, while the Huskies were 1/11. The Dogs were 16/67 in penalties, while the T-Birds were only 16/48.

Saskatchewan's record moves to 15-4-3 and UBC's improves to 8-11-1. Saskatchewan hits the road for the next two weekends, and comes back for a home and home series with Regina, playing at Rutherford Rink on Sat, Feb 18 at 7:00pm.