The University of Alberta Golden Bears came away undefeated in a two game weekend series with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Vancouver. The two victories improved the Bears’ Canada West record to 10-3-1 and moved the Bears into second place behind the University of Saskatchewan Huskies who own a 12-2-0 record.
On Friday night, defenseman Dylan Bredo opened the scoring (his second of the season) for the Golden Bears at 2:57 of the first period. Alberta never trailed in the game and were lead to victory by a Levko Koper hat-trick. Riley Kieser also scored for the Golden Bears. UBC managed to get two by goaltender Luke Siemens, but the game was never really in doubt. The shots favoured the Golden Bears in a big way with Alberta firing 38 compared British Columbia’s 17.
The Saturday game was a strange affair. At one point the Thunderbirds were actually leading as they had managed 4 goals on their first six shots. Their shooting percentage was actually 100% until after they scored their third goal early in the second period. It didn’t matter; the Golden Bears went 3 for 5 on the power play and Brett Ferguson had a monster four point night (1 goal and 3 assists) which was complimented by a 2 goal night by their captain, Kruse Reddick. Jamie Crooks and Jordan Hickmott also had good games with a goal and two assists each. In the end, Alberta sent the Thunderbirds home with their second loss of the weekend by a 8-5 final score. The shots again favoured the Bears, 37-20.
After a slow start with few goals to show for a ridiculous amount of shots, the Golden Bears offence is really starting to rev up with the Bears scoring 5 or more goals in three of their last four games (6, 1, 5, & 8). Jordan Hickmott has moved into a tie with Tyler Fiddler of Mount Royal for the scoring lead in the Canada West. Powered by his hat trick in the Friday night contest, Levko Koper has moved into the top-ten and now holds the seventh spot in the scoring race.
Next Up
The Golden Bears return home to the Clare Drake Arena next Friday and Saturday night when they face-off in a two game set versus the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The Friday night game (November 27th) starts a 7:00 pm while the Saturday contest starts a 6:00pm.
Lethbridge sits 6th in the Canada West with a 6-7-1 record.
Post Game, Live from Rich’s Garage
The post game show on Oilers Rig Radio returns after the Golden Bears home games next weekend and will be published the following week.
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