Box Score
CALGARY – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds men's hockey team dominated on Friday night at Flames Community Arenas, ousting the MRU Cougars 5-2.

Mount Royal struggled to get pucks on net early, registering only two shots in the first period. 

Cougars veteran Spencer Moe was sent on a partial break early for one of MRU's few chances in the first but was easily turned aside by T-Birds netminder Cole Schwebius.

Thunderbirds winger Carson Latimer looked dangerous early for the away team but couldn't find the back of the net. Latimer was keen to replicate his two-point performance against Mount Royal during their first meeting of the season back on October 11.

Shane Farkas was steller for the Cougars in the opening frame. The Penticton, BC product's best save came halfway through the period when he stopped Sasha Mutala with his quick glove hand. 

However, Mutala redeemed himself in the final minutes of the first. The T-Birds went on the man advantage after Tristan Zandee took a penalty for goaltender interference. Mutala redirected a pass from Liam Kidree and the puck squeaked through the legs of Farkas to give UBC a 1-0 heading into the intermission.

In the second period, the Thunderbirds poured it on.

On their third powerplay of the game, UBC caught a break. Defenceman Connor McDonald's attempt to centre the puck to Mutala ricocheted off the skate of Cougars captain Kyle Walker towards the net and beat Shane Farkas to make it 2-0.

Mount Royal's fortune went from bad to worse after the Thunderbirds scored two more goals in the period, courtesy of Lian Kindree and Jack Wismer. 

Cougars' rookie Connor Poffenroth nearly got MRU on the board late in the second after he found himself on a breakaway but rang the puck off the post. 

Despite not getting the bounces their way, Mount Royal head coach Bert Gilling was not ready to make excuses or point fingers..

"Luck favours those who are best prepared. [UBC] was more prepared to play than us tonight. That's as much on us coaches too," said Gilling. 

UBC's dominant effort and MRU's unfavourable bounces had the former up 4-0 with 20 minutes left to play.

Riley Sims was given the nod to go the rest of the way between the pipes for Mount Royal in relief of Shane Farkas.

The change in net caused a minor spark for MRU, who finally got on the board early in the third. 

Tim Gould made a nifty play, kicking the puck up to his own stick before shooting it past the blocker of Cole Schwebius to cut the deficit to three.
The Cougars scored again halfway through the period while on the powerplay. Clay Hanus wired a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle into the top corner for his fourth goal and team-leading 13th point of the year. 

UBC restored their three-goal lead a few minutes later. Josh Williams broke away from the Cougars' defence and slid the puck toward the net and through the pads of Riley Sims.

"I thought we turned over way too many pucks," said Bert Gilling. "Credit to UBC. They make it hard out there; they're always pressuring us. But we got to be smart with the puck." 

"We got better in the third, so there's something build on. It's all going to be about the response," Gilling concluded.

The Cougars will get the chance to respond on Saturday for the second game of the weekend against UBC. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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