The UBC women’s hockey team was able to get a slight break last weekend. Thanks to their historic first-place finish in the U Sport women's hockey top 10, the ’Birds earned a bye-week and a berth into the Canada West semi-finals. Now it’s time to get back to work.
For head coach Graham Thomas, the break was very much needed.
“We get some bodies back … and also get some rest for a few of [the players], so it is good,” said Thomas after the team's last game against the Mount Royal University Cougars.
“We are going to take advantage of that.”
This weekend, the T-Birds will be hosting the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the Canada West semifinals. The two teams will compete in a best-of-three series, the winner of which will proceed to the Canada West finals.
Last weekend, Saskatchewan beat out the fifth-placed University of Regina Cougars in two games. Prior to the playoffs, the Huskies finished 15-10-3 and placed fourth in Canada West.
For the ’Birds, the bar will be set high going into the series. Apart from being first in the league, veteran talent has also made UBC dominant on all areas of offense, defense and goaltending throughout the season.
The team has the most number of goals for in Canada West at 86. They are also tied with the University of Manitoba Bisons for the second-fewest goals against at 45. Fifth-year forward Nicole Saxvik’s 12 goals put her at third for most in the conference.
Although UBC may have the upper hand, it’s definitely not time for the ’Birds to let their guard down.
“This league, this conference is so competitive that a number six seed can knock off a number one seed, so we need to realize that we’re not insurmountable,” said Thomas.
Of the many teams that the ’Birds faced during the regular season, the Huskies did prove to be one of the more challenging opponents. In the four games that UBC played against Saskatchewan, two of them were losses by 5-3 and 5-4. In comparison, the ’Birds gave up no more than three goals in all the other games they played.
For fifth-year Emily O’Neill, it is crucial for the ’Birds to get past the Huskies if they want to make a run for the national championship. This being her final playoff at UBC, it will be her last chance.
“[The national championship] is something that’s been burning since my first year … and ever since, there’s been some kind of unfinished business,” said O’Neill.
The first game of the semifinals will kick off on Friday February 24 at 7 p.m.