Box Score Lethbridge - Heading into the final weekend of the season, all the UBC Thunderbirds needed to do was stay in front of the Manitoba Bisons in the standings in order to secure their first home playoff berth since 1971. Unfortunately for the T-Birds they ran into a University of Lethbridge Pronghorns team with nothing to play for except for their pride and to play spoiler. The Horns exploded out of the gates and riding the momentum of two early power play markers, the Horns were able to hang on and upend the T-Birds 4-3.



Hayden Rintoul scored twice for the 'Horns, while David McMullen and Brock Hirsche each picked up a goal each. Cole Wilson picked up two goals in a losing cause for the Thunderbirds and Luke Lockheart picked up the other goal.


A two-man advantage put the T-Birds on the ropes early as the Pronghorns notched two quick goals in 24 seconds to claim an early 2-0 lead. Hayden Rintoul's slap shot from the point got the Horns on the board first as the former Victoria Royal one-timed a feed from his defense partner Ryan Aasman. David McMullen added to the Horns lead shortly thereafter, receiving a pass from down low in the corner from Mitch Maxwell before wiring a shot over the glove of T-Birds goalie Matt Hewitt. 



The 'Horns explosive start forced T-Birds coach Tyler Kuntz to take a time-out in an attempt to rally the troops. While the time-out re-energized his team, the T-Birds were unable to solve Horns goalie Warren Shymko in the first period, despite outshooting the Pronghorns 19-10.


The Pronghorns started the second period the same way that they started the first, with a Hayden Rintoul goal. This time the goal came while the 'Horns were a man down. A neutral zone turnover by the T-Birds gave the 'Horns a 2 on 1 rush which transitioned into a 3 on 2. For the second time in the game Mitch Maxwell made a nifty pass, finding a streaking Rintoul in the high slot where he would rip a wrist shot over the glove of Hewitt.


The T-Birds finally solved Shymko at the 11:12 mark of the second when Luke Lockheart scooped up a rebound at the top of the crease and buried it past the down and out 'Horns goalkeeper. Despite outshooting the 'Horns 11-9 in the second, the Thunderbirds trailed the Pronghorns by a score of 3-1 heading into the intermission.


As they did in the previous two periods, the 'Horns would once again strike early in the period. Breaking down the right wing Brock Hirshe wired a slap shot through a partially screened Hewitt to put the Horns up 4-1 and restore their three goal cushion at the 1:40 mark of the third.



The T-Birds once again drew within two at 6:21 of the third as 'Horns goalie Shymko was knocked down in during a scramble in the crease, which led to Justin Georgeson feeding Cole Wilson from behind the net for an easy tap-in goal.


With time dwindling down in the period, UBC drew within one while on the power play as Wilson picked up his second of the contest. The former Camrose Kodiak blasted a slap shot from the point through the five-hole of Shymko to make it a 4-3 game with 1:14 on the clock. Despite having the 'Horns on their heels with the extra attacker, time would expire before the T-Birds were able to tie the game and the 'Horns escaped with a 4-3 victory.



The T-Birds once again outshot the 'Horns in the third by a total of 12-7, giving them a 43-26 advantage in the contest.



The 'Horns victory improves their record to 5-22-0 while the T-Birds slip to 12-11-5, but it wasn't all bad news for the Thunderbirds as Mount Royal did them a favor knocking off the Bisons tonight and keeping their hopes of a home playoff date alive. The teams will finish their weekend series Friday night in Lethbridge with a 7:00pm puck drop at Nicholas Sheran Arena.



Following Friday night's game, members of the men's hockey team will be shaving their heads in support of their brothers, Dylan and Brennan in their fight.  All donations received will be put towards testicular cancer research and awareness. Donations can be made online at: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?team_id=323866&pg=team&fr_id=19023&s_locale=en_CA&et=OALQsVRlE7xIvJpGtd.