This offseason, Women’s Hockey has lost a significant portion of their roster to graduation. But thanks to the mentorship of those graduating players, and an incredibly talented young core, they won’t be taking a step back.
Since the first-ever Olympic Winter Games in 1924, only three female athletes who played sports at UBC have competed in any edition of the Winter Games. Here are their stories.
For Russian forward Ilona Markova, adapting to UBC meant more than learning new systems. After a career marked by international success, an Olympic heartbreak and a brief stop in the PWHL, she had to master a new country, a new culture and North American hockey's unique language.
After an outstanding career as a Thunderbird, UBC’s all-time leading scorer, Grace Elliott, has been selected 38th overall in the PWHL draft by the Seattle Torrent. At the time of her selection, she was only the fourth U Sports player to be drafted straight out of university, and is the second-highest U Sports selection ever.
After a Waterloo goal gave the Warriors a lead a minute in, it looked like UBC’s season might end with a loss. Instead, UBC flipped the script early, dominating from then on — including a four-goal second period — to easily oust the host team and secure a fifth-place finish.
Playing mostly for pride, the T-Birds looked much more like themselves in the consolation semifinal against Ottawa. Despite Gee-Gees goalie Clara Genier standing on her head in net with 37 saves, the ‘Birds dominated play to take the 2–0 win.
The most talented roster that UBC women’s hockey has likely ever assembled went out with a whimper. In a stunning shootout loss, the T-Birds continued their historical struggles at nationals, being eliminated in the first round as the higher seed for the third time in the past five years.
It was a fitting end to their Canada West campaign. After a season where the ‘Birds won the most games in conference history with a lineup that featured Canada West’s top player, defender and coach, they took home the conference title as well, sweeping Manitoba in a tight 1–0 contest.
In Game 1 of the Canada West finals, the T-Birds were up against a classic underdog tale. The Manitoba Bisons, who had barely qualified for the playoffs, knocked off two higher-seeded teams on the road to UBC. The ‘Birds put a serious dent in their Cinderella story on Friday, waxing them 5–1.
With the extra attacker, UBC has been deadly this season — having the fifth-best power play in the country. In Game 2 of the Canada West semifinals, the Trinity Western Spartans learned that the hard way, giving up two power play tallies in the second to give UBC the 2–0 series sweep.
With a 20-day hiatus since their last test on the ice, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Women’s Hockey needed a period or two to gel. Instead, they scored early and often, with four different players getting a tally — a showcase of depth that bodes well for a long playoff run.
Grace Elliott has done it all. She’s led the country in goals for two straight years. She’s the reigning U Sports player of the year. She’s UBC’s all-time point leader. Her university career is coming to an end this year, but she’s made the most of every second.
In front of a raucous Winter Classic crowd, the 'Birds didn't let two early Trinity Western leads scare them, answering fast before taking control in the second, securing a 4–2 win.
Continuing their run of dominance, UBC’s women’s hockey team dominated the University of Alberta Pandas in a 5–1 win on Friday at Clare Drake Arena. The match marked the third time the teams met this season, with UBC dominating the Pandas on all three occasions.
Completing their journey back to success after losing in the tournament’s opening game, L’Université Laval Rouge et Or dominated their in-conference rivals, the University of Ottawa’s Gee-Gees by a score of 40 –14. This was the consolation final for the U Sports Women’s Rugby Championship — the first match of the final day of competition at Thunderbird Stadium — with fifth place on the line.
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