Box Score Cole Schwebius led UBC with 24 saves to help them down Manitoba 3-1 at Wayne Fleming Arena on Friday night.
The Thunderbirds dominated the game right out of the gate. UBC netted two goals within a minute of each other. Jake Kryski slotted home the first and Connor McDonald followed suit a minute later to give the visitors a two goal advantage.
"We were playing a really good hockey team and just weren't ready to start the game," said Bisons head coach Gordon Burnett. "When you boil it down that was the game. They scored two quick goals so we're down 2-0 early and their goalie did a good job," he added.
The silver lining for Manitoba was Kolby Thorton had another strong performance between the sticks stopping 31 shots, including two that Burnett thought were difficult saves.
"We ask him to stop the pucks he should and if he stops a few that he shouldn't, which he stopped two there, then we have a chance to win," Burnett stated about his goaltender's showing.
A key milestone was also achieved by Bisons fifth year forward
Colton Veloso who appeared in his 100th game for the Herd.
"You want players who compete every night and Colton does just that," said Burnett when asked about Veloso's achievement. "The thing I respect the most about his game is that he competes hard no matter the situation."
It was all Thunderbirds offensively through he first ten minutes as they had nine shots while the Bisons didn't have one.
Manitoba started to fight back hard in the closing minutes. The Bisons got a five on three late in the period but weren't able to capitalize.
Manitoba's aggressive offence picked up where it left off. Three minutes in
Tony Apetagon banged in a pass from
Jonny Hooker to cut UBC's lead in half.
The Thunderbirds returned the favour by applying heavy pressure down the stretch in the second. However Bisons netminder Kolby Thorton hung on tight to prevent any pucks from getting past him.
The Bisons came close to tying the score halfway through the period but weren't able to put the puck on target.
A few minutes later
Chase Hartje rifled a puck on target that got deflected away from the UBC goal. He had another golden chance 60 seconds later but again the Thunderbirds defence were on the scene.
With 4 minutes left Josh Williams had a one on one with Thorton to ice the game. Thornton stood on his head to shut the door and keep Manitoba's hopes of heading to overtime alive.
Despite valiant efforts offensively with the goalie pulled UBC iced the game when Tian Rask buried the empty netter with under a minute left.
"If we started the game at 7:00pm then we would've had a better chance to win. We still had a chance to win the game even after giving them two off the start," Burnett said. "If we start the game tomorrow at 2:00pm then I think we have a good chance," he added.
The rematch goes tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm CT at Wayne Fleming Arena.
