Box Score Game Summary

The UBC Thunderbirds survived a late penalty shot attempt to record a 6-5 win over the Regina Cougars in a wild Canada West men's hockey game on Friday night at The Co-Operators Centre.

With the Cougars trailing by one goal with 1:10 left in the third period, Matt Strueby was awarded an automatic penalty shot after UBC's Ryan Kakoske was whistled for delay of game in the final two minutes. Strueby actually beat UBC goalie Jordan White five-hole on the attempt, but the puck hit the post.

The win improves UBC's record to 2-2-1, while the Cougars fall to 3-4-0 with the loss.

The first period was fairly uneventful, not really giving an indication of what was to come. Neither team scored in the opening frame with UBC outshooting Regina by a 12-6 margin.

The fun started early in the second period, with the teams combining for four goals in the first nine minutes of action. Dillon Johnstone opened the scoring at the 59-second mark, but Marc Desloges and Dustin Kimber replied for UBC. Brett Leffler tied up the game at 8:49 for the Cougars before UBC's Wyatt Hamilton regained the lead for the Thunderbirds with a goal four minutes later.

Desloges scored his second of the game early in the third period, and Hamilton's second goal – a shorthanded effort – gave UBC a three-goal lead just under four minutes in.

The Cougars mounted a comeback, as Ryan Bender scored on the power play just 28 seconds after Hamilton's goal. Tyler Penny added another power play goal for the Cougars three minutes later, but Ben Schmidt restored UBC's two-goal lead with what would prove to be the game-winning goal at the 9:26 mark.

Ryan Sawka scored for the Cougars at the 10:05 mark, finishing off the scoring in an offensive display that saw the two teams scoring a total of six goals in just over half of the period.

Nolan Toigo had three assists for UBC, while Neil Kodman dished out two helpers for the Cougars.

UBC was 0-for-7 on the power play, while the Cougars scored twice on their five opportunities with the man advantage. White made 29 saves for UBC, while Adam Ward stopped 31 of 37 shots between the pipes for the Cougars.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at The Co-Operators Centre. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.