The University of Regina men's hockey team dropped a 5-3 decision against the UBC Thunderbirds at the Doug Mitchell Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars were playing from behind for most of the contest, as UBC scored four goals in the first period. Jerret Smith, Tyler Sandhu, Riley Guenther and Matt Revel had first-period markers, before Tanner Faith sealed the deal with an empty-netter with less than a minute left.

Ben Duperreault had two goals for the Cougars, and Tristan Frei also found the net as Regina falls to 2-11-1. Frei's goal cut the lead to 4-3 with just over a minute left, but Faith banked a long shot off the glass and into the empty net to move UBC to 9-5-0 on the season.

Patrick Dea made 29 saves in goal for UBC while Dawson MacAuley stopped 33 Thunderbird efforts at the other end of the rink.

Smith opened the scoring just 19 seconds into Saturday's game, putting a high shot over the shoulder of MacAuley. Duperreault netted his second of the season three minutes later, showing off his speed to get to a loose puck and knock it home. It took the T-Birds just 52 seconds to go back on top, with Sandhu potting a rebound. Goals from Guenther at the 6:56 mark and Revel at 19:35 gave UBC a 4-1 lead after the first period.

Duperreault struck again in the second period, scoring a powerplay goal with a low shot through the five-hole of Dea off assists from Tyler King and Tanner Campbell.

With MacAuley out of his net late in the third, Frei was able to squeeze a rebound into the UBC goal after a point shot from King. UBC iced the game 34 seconds later as Faith scored his first of the season.

The Cougars will return home to close the 2018 portion of the Canada West season, hosting Mount Royal University next Friday and Saturday at The Co-operators Centre.