CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos started 2020 off on a victorious note, shutting out the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 3-0 on Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena.

Jordyn Burgar and Laine Grace both scored for the Dinos, and Sara Craven added an empty netter at the final buzzer while Kelsey Roberts made 15 saves for the shutout win.

Tory Micklash stopped 9 of the 11 shots she faced before Reese Hiddleston took over at the start of the third period, stopping all four shots directed at her.

Heading into Friday's game the Dinos had won seven of their last eight games and were in first place in Canada West, while the Thunderbirds had not scored in their last three games leading up to the break.

The first period ended scoreless, with only nine shots between the two teams in the opening frame. The Thunderbirds had the better chances of the teams with two opportunities coming on powerplays but they failed to convert. 

The Dinos broke out in the second period scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead.
 

The first ???? of the season looked like this

???#GoDinos pic.twitter.com/pu1SF6ewp0

— UCalgary Dinos Women's Hockey ?? (@DinosWHKY) January 4, 2020

Burgar opened the scoring at 6:36 into the frame after she tipped Paige Michalenko's shot from the point past Micklash for her first goal of the season. The Thunderbirds were called for Unsportsmanlike Conduct late and with 4:48 remaining in the period, Grace fired a shot past a screened Micklash after an excellent back and forth passing play with Delaney Frey, extending the Dinos lead to 2-0 going into the third.
 

POWER PLAY GOAL!

Laine Grace doubles the lead with a clapper!#GoDinos pic.twitter.com/EY0wMh4gZW

— UCalgary Dinos Women's Hockey ?? (@DinosWHKY) January 4, 2020

"Quick puck movement is something that is really nice on the powerplay and Delaney [Frey] was just feeding me and then we got a big screen in front and the goalie did not see it at all," Grace commented about her second period goal.

Roberts had to come up with several big saves in the third period as the Dinos were called for interference, and the Thunderbirds pulled their goalie on the powerplay to give them a two-man advantage, but they could not beat Roberts, extending their goalless drought to four games dating back to late November.

The rematch between these two teams will be on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. MT (2 p.m. PT) at Father David Bauer Arena, live on CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.

-UC-