WHKY: T-Birds crowned Canada West champs with OT thriller
March 13, 2022
VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds have secured their fourth Canada West championship after a thrilling game two victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night.
Lake Country B.C.'s Chanreet Bassi scored the game's lone goal 1:38 into overtime, completing the sweep for the T-Birds who have claimed conference supremacy for the first time since 2017.
"I haven't even seen the goal yet," said UBC Head Coach Graham Thomas, in reference to Bassi's series clinching goal. "I mean there's so much happening in overtime and these situations there's so much stress and pressure. I saw her cut to the middle and the referee indicate it was a goal so I look forward to looking at it, it was unreal she's such a smart and highly skilled player who saw that pocket of ice and cut to it and drove the net hard. She's had a tremendous year, she's been super motivated after her first year and been working really hard so she's super deserving."
Bassi had a defender draped on her as she picked the puck up on the offensive boards, cut through the slot, and scored 5-hole on Huskies goalie Camryn Drever. Bedlam ensued as the home-crowd erupted and the Thunderbirds poured onto the ice in celebration.
The game winning tally broke a 96-minute deadlock of scoreless hockey, with the previous goal coming courtesy of Shay-Lee McConnell in the second period of game one.
Huskies goalie Camryn Drever faced a barrage from UBC's offence throughout the series, turning aside 73 of 78 shots over the two games. First-year goalie Elise Hugens was stellar in the T-Birds crease, stopping all 27 shots thrown her way, posting back-to-back shutouts.
A fourth Canada West Championship marks a seminal moment for the Thunderbird program.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," recounted Thomas, in between celebratory water bottle showers from his squad. "This team is just sick of losing, too many semi-final bounce outs and the COVID year on top of it, this group was really motivated, it was really special how we came together and just how well they played at the end, I'm just so proud of them."
Headlined by captain Kenzie Robinson, the team's graduating seniors could not have asked for a more perfect ending in their last game at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
"It's emotional just thinking about it, they put so much into this program and they stuck through it, especially Kenzie, coming back for that 6th year was something special, we wouldn't be the team we are right now if she didn't come back. Just really proud of all of them."
UBC has more hockey left to play as the Canada West champions will enjoy some well-earned rest, then shift their focus to capturing a first ever national championship. The U SPORTS National Tournament will be held in PEI from March 24-27.
Lake Country B.C.'s Chanreet Bassi scored the game's lone goal 1:38 into overtime, completing the sweep for the T-Birds who have claimed conference supremacy for the first time since 2017.
"I haven't even seen the goal yet," said UBC Head Coach Graham Thomas, in reference to Bassi's series clinching goal. "I mean there's so much happening in overtime and these situations there's so much stress and pressure. I saw her cut to the middle and the referee indicate it was a goal so I look forward to looking at it, it was unreal she's such a smart and highly skilled player who saw that pocket of ice and cut to it and drove the net hard. She's had a tremendous year, she's been super motivated after her first year and been working really hard so she's super deserving."
Bassi had a defender draped on her as she picked the puck up on the offensive boards, cut through the slot, and scored 5-hole on Huskies goalie Camryn Drever. Bedlam ensued as the home-crowd erupted and the Thunderbirds poured onto the ice in celebration.
The game winning tally broke a 96-minute deadlock of scoreless hockey, with the previous goal coming courtesy of Shay-Lee McConnell in the second period of game one.
Huskies goalie Camryn Drever faced a barrage from UBC's offence throughout the series, turning aside 73 of 78 shots over the two games. First-year goalie Elise Hugens was stellar in the T-Birds crease, stopping all 27 shots thrown her way, posting back-to-back shutouts.
A fourth Canada West Championship marks a seminal moment for the Thunderbird program.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," recounted Thomas, in between celebratory water bottle showers from his squad. "This team is just sick of losing, too many semi-final bounce outs and the COVID year on top of it, this group was really motivated, it was really special how we came together and just how well they played at the end, I'm just so proud of them."
Headlined by captain Kenzie Robinson, the team's graduating seniors could not have asked for a more perfect ending in their last game at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
"It's emotional just thinking about it, they put so much into this program and they stuck through it, especially Kenzie, coming back for that 6th year was something special, we wouldn't be the team we are right now if she didn't come back. Just really proud of all of them."
UBC has more hockey left to play as the Canada West champions will enjoy some well-earned rest, then shift their focus to capturing a first ever national championship. The U SPORTS National Tournament will be held in PEI from March 24-27.