Box Score
CALGARY – Ty Gibson's first two Canada West goals led the Mount Royal University Cougars men's hockey team to a 4-3 comeback win over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Friday night at Flames Community Arena.

Coming off two tough defeats on home ice to the Saskatchewan Huskies, the Thunderbirds were looking to get back in the win column after a less-than-ideal start to the season by their standard, sitting 3-2-1 and third place in the West Division.

UBC got the start they wanted, breaking the ice late in the first. A burst of speed from second-year sensation Brayden Schuurman and a blown coverage from the Cougars allowed Josh Williams to tap in a back-door pass on the rush to make it 1-0.

Schuurman and Williams sit tied for the lead in points (11) on the T-Birds and second overall in the Canada West.

The Cougars were plagued by penalties in the second period. A lack of discipline saw them take four minors in the frame.

However, Mount Royal made the most of their few opportunities and levelled the score with a shorthanded marker. Maddux Martin made an incredible saucer pass to Dawson Seitz, who banged it home over the outstretched leg of UBC rookie netminder Brendan Gee.

Martin recorded a career-best two assists in the contest, making him a point-per-game player through seven games in his rookie campaign.

Late in the period, the Thunderbirds retook the lead with a funny bounce in front off of Jake Wright.

Early in the third, they extended their lead on the Cougars. Captain Ty Thorpe made it look easy to get his fourth of the season, cutting out front and tucking the puck past the toe of MRU goalie Zach Zahara.

Zahara, a first-year out of the BCHL champion Brooks Bandits, was making his seventh consecutive start in his inaugural season with Mount Royal. Although the Cougars were down in the third, Zahara had been stellar all game, making timely saves to keep his squad in it.

The Cougars had been in a similar situation two years ago in the home opener, also against the T-Birds. Down 3-1 in the third period, not much hope on the bench.

But just like that game back in 2024, the Cougars dug deep to keep themselves in the game. Ty Gibson scored his first career goal with a snipe over the shoulder of Gee. Just 63 seconds later, Gibson scored again to tie it, this time on MRU's league-best powerplay.

"It was a great play by [Layton Feist] on the first one and I just found a little lane and shot it," said Gibson on the MRU broadcast following his career performance. "On the second one, I got to give the credit to our power play. Those guys battled net-front and set a heck of a screen and I was just able to get one through."

Now tied up at three, the Cougars had all the momentum on their side. 

With under five to play, Mount Royal would take their first lead of the hockey game. Vaughn Watterodt found Ruslan Jamaldinov out front, fooling Gee to make it 4-3.

The Cougars buckled down late, despite the Thunderbirds turning up the pressure. MRU alternate captain Dawson Milliken made a few key blocks to ensure his team's path to a victory.

"Especially when it's a big game like today, everyone is willing to put their body on the line. It's something we've all bought into," said Milliken.

Milliken and MRU's determination would allow them to hold on for a huge victory.

The Thunderbirds and Cougars will go at it again on Saturday at FCA. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. MDT.