BOX SCORE BOX SCORE

CALGARY – A resilient effort led the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds back from a two-goal deficit on Friday night to hand the No. 7-ranked University of Calgary Dinos their first loss of the regular season, 4-2 at Father David Bauer Arena.

Calgary seemed well on their way to a 3-0-0 start to the year until penalties caught up with them as UBC scored three of their four goals on the man advantage. The loss pushes the Dinos down to a 2-1-0 record, while the Thunderbirds improve to 2-0-1.

“I thought we played a pretty good first 30 minute and a really bad last 30,” said assistant coach Cory Cross, “we took some questionable penalties and I don't think we were physical enough on them.”

The opening period saw a series of momentum swings. The Thunderbirds were able to control the majority of the opening minutes as they focused on a cycling the puck around the Dinos' end. As Calgary got a couple of power play chances, the home side took charge though.

While the first power plays didn't result in a goal, the Dinos would find the back of the net in the final minute of the frame. A pass from the right side by second-year forward Tyler Fiddler found Cory Pritz entering into the zone. Pritz let the shot go near the blue line to beat Steven Stanford.

After allowing the late goal at the end of the first, UBC was got off their game to start the second stanza, allowing Calgary to pounce. A second great set-up by Fiddler, this time cross-crease from right to left, put the puck on the stick of captain Brock Nixon who roofed the shot over Stanford. The tally was Nixon's second of the campaign.

A power play near the end of the second period gave the Thunderbirds the opportunity they needed to get on the scoreboard. A hard shot from rookie Brad Hoban from above the left face-off circle sailed over the glove of a screened Dustin Butler, which ended the Calgary netminder's shutout streak which dated back to the season opener. Hoban's goal gave him his third in as many games as the first-year player gave his team some life going into the final frame.

UBC tied the game 5:12 into the third period. With UBC on the power play, Calgary would be exposed when two Dinos were caught out of position to finish a hit, leaving Jason Yee alone to fire a shot past Butler.

Born in Calgary, Stanford made a stunning save midway through the third period as he made a huge diving stop to deny Fiddler of his third goal of the season, and keeping the game tied at two.

As the game seemed destined for overtime, the Thunderbirds took their first lead of the contest. At 18:22 of the third, Veteran forward Scott Wasden netted UBC's third power play goal of the evening to put the visitors up 3-2.

Adding insult to injury, the Thunderbirds would add an insurance goal in the final minute as Scott MacDonald went straight to the Dinos' net and buried his first of the year to round out the scoring.

“We have to bounce back tomorrow, we have to give an honest effort, we had some key players that didn't play great tonight,” explained Cross as he looked to tomorrow's rematch.

These two clubs will meet again tomorrow night with puck drop at 6 p.m. The Dinos will go on the road for the first time this season next weekend with games in Regina on Oct. 19-20. The Thunderbirds return home next week as they finally play their home opener with games against Lethbridge on Oct. 19-20.

-UC-