Blake Murphy Sports Writing

In season’s past, Saturday night would have been a fun and entertaining way for UBC Thunderbirds’ seniors to finish up their UBC careers.

For this year’s class of five graduating players, however, it was just another exciting win in a season that has been full of them, and they’re hoping there are more to come. Since the Thunderbirds have clinched a top-four finish in the Canada West, they are assured of hosting a playoff series in the coming weeks.

That means Saturday night’s 3-2 shootout victory over Manitoba wasn’t the last home game for Kaitlin Imai (Coquitlam, BC) and her four outgoing teammates.

Imai played a big part in Saturday’s victory, scoring in the second round of the shootout. She opted not to deke and instead shot glove side, replicating Tatiana Rafter‘s (Winnipeg, MB) earlier shootout goal.

“The coach kind of let the decision be up to us,” said Imai. “I knew this was kind of my last chance at it, and I was feeling good so I went for it.”

Manitoba got a glove-side goal from Meagan Vestby, but Thunderbird goaltender Samantha Langford (Pense, SK) came through with two big pad saves on backhand dekes. Langford made 24 saves between regulation and the overtime period as well.

Imai was joined by Emily Grainger (Sooke, BC), Kaylee Chanakos (Nanaimo, BC), Dayle Poulin (Prince George, BC) and Kelsey Halvorson (Armstrong, BC) in a Senior’s Night ceremony honouring the graduating class before the game. Family, friends and alumni packed Protrans Arena to cheer on the Thunderbirds in their final regular season home game. Imai, Chanakos and Grainger also received golden helmets in recognition of 100 career games played.

Rafter also added her thirteenth goal of the year in the first period, but the Bison matched later in the frame with a goal from Kayleight Wiens.

In the second, Sarah Casorso (Kelowna, BC) scored to notch her seventh point in the past three games, but Amy Lee would answer for Manitoba on a third period power play.

It was an evenly played game that felt much closer than Friday’s 4-1 UBC victory.

“Of course we had to do it like that,” said head coach Graham Thomas. “Credit has to go to Manitoba. That was a playoff game right there.”

The win keeps UBC in third place at present, one point ahead of Alberta but one point back of Regina. UBC can still finish as high as second and earn a first-round bye, but will need help from Manitoba, who host Regina next weekend. UBC will head to Alberta, meaning seeds two through four are very much up in the air.

“Just making playoffs is huge,” said Imai. “To be able to host, that’s program history. It feels good.”

For the Thunderbirds, perhaps a bye doesn’t really matter. After all, the team is red hot, having won five straight games and losing just once in their past nine contests, , in a shootout no less. Maybe continuing with what has worked of late is just as important as playoff match-ups.

“Obviously, regardless of what happens we’re in control of our own destiny,” said Thomas. “We’ve got a huge weekend coming up. We’re going to enjoy tonight but it’s going to be right back at it.”

They’ll get that chance on Friday at Alberta.