University of Regina Sports Information
REGINA - The University of Regina men's hockey team fell 3-1 to the UBC Thunderbirds at The Co-operators Centre on Friday night.
Austin Vetterl netted two goals for UBC, while Adam Rossignol was responsible for the game winner. Colton Sparrow was the lone goal scorer for the Cougars, who drop to 3-14-2 with the loss.
The first period featured back-and-forth action for extended periods of time, with the first whistle of the game not coming until the 7:39 mark. Both teams created good scoring chances, but Dawson MacAuley and Matt Hewitt stood tall in their respective nets and kept the opposing offence off the board.
The second period had a slower pace with a number of good chances, but a big blocker save from MacAuley and a glove stop by Hewitt on a Cody Fowlie deflection kept the score locked at 0-0. Vetterl finally broke the stalemate at the 16:48 mark of the frame, patiently potting a backhand following a Cougar turnover. Austin Glover picked up an assist on Vetterl's team-leading 10th.
Zak Zborosky nearly tied it with a shorthanded effort near the end of the period, ripping a slapshot from the wing that knocked Hewitt's stick right out of his hand. Hewitt's lumber deflected what would have been Zborosky's 10th goal just wide of the net.
UBC took a two-goal lead midway through the third, as Rossignol capitalized off another Cougar turnover. The fourth-year forward took a shot from a sharp angle and went short side over the shoulder of MacAuley for his second of the season.
Regina answered thanks to Sparrow, as Tyson Predinchuk slipped a nice backhand pass from behind the net and Sparrow was there to beat Hewitt blocker side for his third. Zach McPhee also picked up an assist as the Cougars drew closer.
The Cougars had a chance with MacAuley out of his net late, but Zborosky was called for tripping so the extra attacker made it a five-on-five scenario. Vetterl was able to knock down a pass and send one the length of the ice at the 19:59 mark for his second of the night.
MacAuley finished the game with 25 saves while Hewitt made 27 stops for his seventh win of the Canada West season.
The Cougars and Thunderbirds will face off again on Saturday night, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre.