Photo courtesy: Huskie Athletics/Electric Umbrella Images Ltd.

By Ryan Flaherty

T-birds escape

Breaks benefit Thunderbirds in narrow win over Huskies

Nov 29, 2025 | 8:06 PM

A pair of controversial calls went the UBC Thunderbirds’ way as they escaped with a 1-0 win over the Huskies women’s hockey team on Saturday to sweep their weekend series in Vancouver.

The Dogs had two potential tying goals waved off in the third period as the T-Birds made an early power play marker stand up for the victory.

After a penalty-filled end to Friday’s game the rematch featured cooler heads on both sides. The Huskies were whistled for only two infractions in the contest but on the first UBC power play, Grace Elliott rifled home her conference-leading 15th goal of the season to give the Thunderbirds the lead midway through the opening period.

The Thunderbirds carried play for long stretches of the game but Clara Juca kept the Dogs in the fight, stopping 29 shots through the first two periods of play.

Controversy erupted midway through the third. With Saskatchewan on its third and ultimately final power play of the night, Kahlen Wisener beat UBC goaltender Mya Lucifora with a sharp angle shot, but the goal was waved off as one official determined that Shelby Williamson was in the crease. Replays showed that Williamson did not interfere with the play or the goaltender but the call stood to preserve the Thunderbirds lead.

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The closing moments of the game produced another contentious ruling. With the Huskies playing six-on-five with the net empty, McKenna Bolger fired a point shot past Lucifora just as the final buzzer sounded. After a brief huddle, the officiating crew determined the puck crossed the goal line after time had expired, however, once again the replay showed otherwise, with the back of the net bulging and still 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

There is no video review in Canada West hockey, so the game ended 1-0 UBC.

The Thunderbirds outshot the Huskies 40-8 on the night and went 1-for-2 on the power play while the Dogs were 0-for-3. Juca was terrific in defeat, making 39 saves. Lucifora only had to make eight saves to earn her third shutout of the season.

The number one-ranked T-Birds are now 15-1 on the year while the Huskies are 6-6-2. Saskatchewan will close out its first semester schedule next weekend against the Regina Cougars, who fell in a shootout to Manitoba on Saturday and sit one point back of the Dogs for the third and final playoff spot in the East Division.

Friday’s opener of the home and home set will get underway at 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place. The game can be heard on the free HuskieFAN app.

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by Ryan Flaherty