Day one of the 2014 Great Northwest Showcase saw the UBC Thunderbirds earn a dramatic come-from-behind win over the seven-time NCAA Division 1 champions from the U of North Datoka. The Team Formerly Known as the Fighting Sioux, which features a dozen NHL draft picks, including World Junior Gold Medalist Rocco Grimaldi, is the first NCAA varsity team to play in BC since 1999*.
Zane Gothberg made 22 saves for the University of North Dakota, but it wasn’t enough. The UBC Thunderbirds tied the game with 52 seconds left in regulation, then salted it away in overtime at Bill Copeland Arena. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
The game offered up solid goaltending at both ends of the ice. Sophomore Zane Gothberg, a 2010 draft pick of the Boston Bruins, made 22 saves on 25 shots for UND, while keepers Matt Hewitt and Steven Stanford teamed up to make 26 saves for UBC.
You’re just a few shopping days away from the big Noël, and you’ve still got a few unchecked boxes on the naughty and nice list. Maybe one or two of those stockings belong to sports fans. Here’s just one idea for how to fill that bit of footwear that hangs on the mantle.
Great Northwest Showcase
January 3–4 at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby SFU, UBC, U of North Dakota, Princeton
Tickets start at $10
The 2014 Great Northwest Showcase takes place January 3–4 at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby. The SFU Clan host the UBC Thunderbirds, UND (Fighting Sioux) and Princeton Tigers in four high-level collegiate hockey games. Tickets start at just ten bucks a seat.
The SFU hockey program has made some serious steps forward over the past few seasons. One of the biggest strides was the two-day Great Northwest Showcase, which brought NCAA teams — specifically, the Oklahoma Sooners and Arizona State Sun Devils — to Burnaby. This year, January 3–4 will see teams from the University of North Dakota and Princeton University ice teams at Bill Copeland against SFU and the UBC Thunderbirds. That’s right, frickin’ Princeton. Ivy League, baby.
For the uninitiated, UND (formerly called the Fighting Sioux) is only a seven-time NCAA Div 1 champion. This year, no fewer than twelve roster spots are filled by NHL draftees, including Adam Tambellini (son of ex-Canuck Steve, and a member of last year’s Surrey Eagles team that went to the national Junior A championships). Alumni include NHLers like Jonathan “Captain Serious” Toews, Ed “I’ll Pay You a Billion Dollars” Belfour, Zach “Like Sunday Pa-Mornin'” Parise and Mike “Good Gravy I’m a Hairy, Hairy Man” Commodore. The tournament’s finale features another alumnusin the puck drop ceremony: Garry “Ex-Canuck Turned Analyst” Valk.
More, including bobbleheads and video links, after the jump.
Pucked in the Head is happy to welcome SFU correspondent Jenessa Gladstone to the fold, as she files her first story here on the website. She’s worked extensively up on the Hill, both in her studies and with the Athletics Department, and now here she is a fully-fledged member of the PITH clan.
The SFU Clan women’s basketball bench cheers a three-pointer during GNAC conference final action last weekend. Photo from the SFU Athletics website.
The Simon Fraser Clan women’s basketball team are making the most of their inaugural season in the NCAA. They finished with a 23-5 overall record, including a 12-0 perfect record on home court, good for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and a berth in the 64-team Division II NCAA tournament. Check out the interactive bracket here.
In their first taste of big tournament action, SFU defeated the number seven seeded Northwest Nazarene Crusaders (20-5) by a score of 68-57. They move on to face the number six Grand Canyon ‘Lopes, who upset the number three seed UC San Diego in their opening round matchup. Tipoff goes at noon Pacific time on Monday, March 18.
SFU became the NCAA’s only full-member international school on September 1, 2012 after spending the 2011-2012 at the provisional membership status. The Clan placed second in the GNAC conference tournament at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.
What do you buy the hockey fan who has nothing to cheer for, NHL-wise, anyway?
The third in our get gifts quick series moves away from the printed word, which we focused upon in parts one and two, and on to live attendance at actual, real-life hockey games. No, we don’t recommend putting deposits down for NHL ticket packages. Rather, we want to push you to attend games at other levels of hockey.
After the jump, check out how.
Pucked in the Head is taking part in the 2013 Ride to Conquer Cancer. You can help us reach our fundraising goal by throwing a few bucks at our campaign, at http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/jasonkurylo2013.
