The UBC women’s hockey team is quickly proving last year’s record-breaking season was no fluke.
By all accounts, last season was one for the ages. After a dreadful 2011-2012 showing in which they won only one game, 2012-2013 was an unbelievable turnaround for the team, with the Thunderbirds finishing 17-7-4 in the regular season and silencing all doubters by taking the Canada West championship.
From loser to winner in one season, it was the most remarkable turnaround ever in the history of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
Fast-forward to 2014 — the 100th anniversary of hockey at UBC — the T-Birds are well on their way to making this their winningest season ever. They currently stand at 16-3-1 with eight regular season games left to play.
The T-Birds need just two more wins to top last year’s victorious record.
Head coach Graham Thomas attributes the team’s success to the character and work ethic of the players as well as to the family feeling that permeates from the coaches on down.
“We are just creating an environment right now where we are accountable to each other,” he said.
They also don’t think a lot about the scoreboard, but more about their play and practice.
“We work really hard and we just focus on the process and it is a process of every single day of working on getting better and achieving everybody’s best,” he said.
Another undeniable bonus for the team the last two seasons has been veteran Danielle Dube in net. In her first game in goal at the start of last season, the team won 4-0 against the Regina Cougars and showed her younger teammates that winning was possible. She is a boon both on and off the ice by showing in her actions and attitude that hard work pays off, said Thomas.
At 37, Dube brings a wealth of hockey and life lessons to the dressing room. She has played for the Canadian National Women’s hockey team (from 1994-1998 and again from 2000-2002), is a full-time firefighter and mom of two. She said she was not a vocal player early in her career, but as her confidence has grown she has found her voice.
“I don’t let all the little stuff get to me so I think they see that calmness and I think that brings a lot to the dressing room. And when I do speak, they really listen,” she said.
Dube also credits the head coach for the team’s newfound success.
“In the past they had just gotten so used to losing and not putting the preparation and the time in, and he made it very clear that you are going to work hard and you are going to do well in school, just raising everyone’s level and their expectations,” she said.
The best reward for the team’s hard work would be to win the CIS National Championship at the end of the season. Thomas said it is too early to be overly focused on the national crown, one of the toughest championships in women’s hockey, but he thinks his team could come out on top come March.
“We do have what it takes to win — excellent goaltending, skill and energy in our forwards and solid depth on the blue line. We compete really hard, are willing to make the selfless sacrifice for the team and are full of character and a never give up attitude,” he said.
The Thunderbirds next chance for a win comes in Alberta Friday against the University of Alberta Pandas in Edmonton.
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