“I think we underestimated them in the third set and they just got the best of us.”
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“We’re already mentally checked in or focusing on next week and our playoff [matches] that will start on Thursday.”
This year’s playoff exit was the second in a row to come by Calgary’s hand.
“Their season was on the line and they played like it. It’s playoff hockey. It happens."
“It’s playoff hockey, we’ve weathered it all season and are ready for it."
“No better way to get [the playoffs] going than with a nice little triple overtime,” UBC head coach Graham Thomas said after the game, laughing.
This was the first game of a possible three-game series featuring UBC as the fourth-seed hosting the fifth-seed Dinos — and it was a physical one.
Redemption was sweet as the ’Birds turned the tables on their old nemesis with two straight wins of their own — and they were no where near as close.
Last season, the Bisons put a stop to the ’Birds playoff run early, defeating UBC on their home court in two games — the teams haven't faced each other since.
This past week, those initial medal hopes from nationals turned into a gold medal in the Pyeongchang team event, as well as a bronze medal for Eric Radford and Meagan Duhamel in the pairs event.
With the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in full swing, you might be wondering where UBC fits into the picture.
“I was pretty happy to see just how we adapted to things and pushed through,” UBC head coach Doug Reimer said after Saturday's game.
"All in all I think we played better as a team, as a group together.”
Disappointing but not heartbreaking, as the 'Birds did take home a victory on Friday — giving the Spartans their first home loss in of 2018.
“It feels good right now but we’re proof that anyone can beat anybody and if it’s Calgary ... they're not going to be scared we beat Alberta or Saskatchewan.”