CALGARY – The UBC Thunderbirds rode a 39-save performance by netminder Gerry Festa to defeat the Calgary Dinos 4-3 Friday night in both teams' first action of the 2008-09 Canada West season.
Festa was called upon early and often as the Dinos outshot the T-Birds by a 42-19 margin, with several more shot opportunities blocked by the UBC defence or sent whistling wide as Calgary peppered the offensive goal with rubber.
“We probably launched close to 30 shots in the first period alone,” said Dinos head coach Scott Atkinson. “There are some positives to come out of this game – we had lots of opportunities and we only gave up 19 shots, but that doesn't count in the standings. We have to find the back of the net.”
UBC shot out to a 3-0 lead after the first period, converting on their first two power play opportunities despite being outshot 13-8 in the opening frame. Jeff Lynch opened the scoring at 4:05 on a deflection that trickled past Calgary netminder Jeff Weber. Craig Lineker made it 2-0 on a slapper from the point that found its way through significant traffic in front at 17:56 and, just 1:16 later, Clayton Bauer wired a snap shot from the hash marks that beat Weber high glove side.
Calgary dominated the second period offensively and was finally rewarded with a pair of late goals. Torrie Wheat nabbed his first of the season on a rebound in tight on Festa, the Dinos' lone power play goal on 10 opportunities. Only 22 seconds later, freshman Brock Nixon scored his first CIS goal with a quick wrister from the face-off circle that fooled Festa high.
The Dinos carried the momentum from two late second period goals into the third, outshooting the T-Birds 17-6, but it was UBC that found the scoreboard first. Calgary defenceman Adam Redmond lost his stick in the defensive zone and, while he bent to retrieve it, Lynch sent a crisp pass across the crease to Keith Voytechek, who was all by himself to make the easy deflection past Weber.
“We gave up three goals in the first period, and that put us in a deep hole that's tough to dig out of,” said Atkinson. “I thought we did dig our way out of it, but obviously that fourth goal is a killer with a guy wide open in front of our net on broken coverage.”
Wheat scored his second of the game with just 11 seconds remaining in the third and the extra attacker on, but that was as close as the Dinos would get.
Lynch added a pair of assists to his opening goal to lead UBC in the points department, while Voytechek got an assist to go with his game-winner. Wheat and Nixon paced the Dinos offensively with two points apiece.
The Thunderbirds went 2-for-7 on the power play, but they played strong on the penalty kill in allowing just one goal on 10 Calgary power play opportunities.
The Dinos and 'Birds will go at it again Saturday night in the rubber match of this early-season series, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at Father David Bauer Arena.
-UC-
UBC 4 at Calgary 3 - Status: Final
Sep 26, 2008 - Father David Bauer Arena
1st Period
Scoring - 1. UBC, J. Lynch (1) (K. Voytechek) 3:55 PP
2. UBC, C. Lineker (1) (B. Sonne, J. Lynch) 17:56 PP
3. UBC, C. Bauer (1) (M. Gordichuck) 19:12
Penalties - A. Redmond Cgy (hooking) 3:53, S. Lynch Ubc (roughing) 6:26, J. Flatters Ubc (hooking) 9:40, S. Lynch Ubc (tripping) 11:52, A. Redmond Cgy (interference) 16:10, B. O'Malley Cgy (interference) 19:25
2nd Period
Scoring - 4. Calgary, T. Wheat (1) (T. Friedley, D. Ehrman) 18:42 PP
5. Calgary, B. Nixon (1) (A. Redmond, B. O'Malley) 19:04
Penalties - R. Jorgensen Cgy (cross checking) 0:44, J. Lynch Ubc (interference) 1:15, C. Bauer Ubc (inter. on goaltender) 3:58, J. Desautels Cgy (slashing) 10:31, A. Wasmuth Ubc (hooking) 17:40, J. Desautels Cgy (10-minute misconduct) 20:00
3rd Period
Scoring - 6. UBC, K. Voytechek (1) (J. Lynch, B. Campos) 8:14
7. Calgary, T. Wheat (2) (P. Gentile, B. Nixon) 19:49
Penalties - C. Lineker Ubc (interference) 1:56, A. Richards Cgy (checking from behind) 2:50, A. Richards Cgy (game misconduct) 4:50, A. Wasmuth Ubc (hooking) 11:15, L. Gorsalitz Cgy (cross checking) 13:13, L. Gorsalitz Cgy (10-minute misconduct) 15:13, M. Gordichuck Ubc (hooking) 16:00, T. Yeo Ubc (slashing) 16:29, M. Gordichuck Ubc (cross checking) 18:19, R. Jorgensen Cgy (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 18:19
UBC Shots: 8 5 6 TOTAL: 19
Cgy Shots: 13 12 17 TOTAL: 42
Power Play Conversion
UBC 2-7. Calgary 1-10.
Goaltenders
UBC
Festa 1-0-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 39 GA: 3 [W]
Calgary
Weber 0-1-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:00 SV: 15 GA: 4 [L]
Start : 7:05 PM
End : 9:29 PM
Attendance : 309
Referee I: Dan Cowley
LINESMAN I: Jeff Jobson
LINESMAN II: Graham Bagg
