Box Score
Lethbridge – After a tough 7-1 loss, Friday night, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns looked to bounce back and earn a weekend split versus the visiting UBC Thunderbirds but penalty trouble and a short bench made the challenge insurmountable and the visiting team rose to occasion, earning a weekend sweep with a 3-0 shutout win, Saturday night, at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
Dillon Wagner, Scott Wasden, and Cole Wilson earned markers for the T-Birds.
Damien Ketlo got the start for the Pronghorns, facing 39 shots on the night, while Jordan White stood tall between the posts for the T-Birds, stopping all 21 shots he faced to earn his fifth CIS shutout; his first of the season.
A fast-paced first period saw both teams come out hard, eager to be first to crack the score sheet. Shots rang out at both ends, testing each net-minder early, including a great 2-on-1 opportunity from ‘Horns’s Cody Chickie and Brent Henke. Breaking out into the UBC zone with a burst of speed, Chickie’s quick shot was stonewalled by White, who confidently gloved it down.
UBC’s Wasden cracked the scoresheet at 16:09, from Schmidt, followed up very quickly by another marker, this time from line-mate, Dillon Wagner, whose goal doubled up their lead, again from Schmidt, bringing his season total to four.
The second period saw both teams struggle to materialize many scoring chances. Both teams tightened their defensive play and sacrificed the body, blocking shots, and forcing turnovers. Still, shots on goal in the second frame slightly favoured the T-Birds, 8-5.
UBC’s third goal came at 7:30 in the third. Unloading a hard blast from the blue line, Wilson’s shot soared through traffic and found the back of the net, widening the gap to three.
Burdened by penalties, and with only fifteen healthy skaters on the bench, the home team found themselves struggling to keep pace with the surging offensive pressure from the T-Birds.
With this win, the T-Birds improve to 11-7-2 (CW) while the Pronghorns fall to 1-17-2 (CW). UBC travels to Saskatoon next week to face off against second place University of Saskatchewan Huskies for a two game series, while the Pronghorns will hit the road, traveling to Edmonton, where they will take on the conference leading University of Alberta Golden Bears, who are coming off a impressive sweep of the Huskies to take a strangle hold of top spot. Both games are scheduled to start at 7pm local time.
