Keaton Dowhaniuk had two assists for the Griffins on Saturday (Vamsi Nadella photo).
Keaton Dowhaniuk had two assists for the Griffins on Saturday (Vamsi Nadella photo).
February 1, 2026

Powerplays continue to be the theme as Griffins lose tight one to Thunderbirds

Box Score

Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

VANCOUVER – In what became a theme of their weekend series, the MacEwan Griffins and UBC Thunderbirds combined for five more powerplay goals on Saturday.

If you're keeping track at home, that's 13 goals scored with the man advantage on a combined 108 minutes in penalties in the two-game series.

While the Griffins men's hockey team actually topped the T-Birds 3-2 on powerplay goals on Saturday – a big improvement after conceding six goals against with the man advantage a night earlier – they still came up short, falling 6-4.

"It was a pretty interesting weekend that way," said MacEwan head coach Zack Dailey. "Again, our big focus was not taking penalties and I think we were in the box six different times. Definitely an area of concern for our group. Definitely not saying it was one-sided. We had eight powerplays. 

"Still, we want to play five on five. I think that's when we're at our best. But I was impressed with our powerplay tonight. I thought they did a great job."

With the result, the Griffins fall below .500 for the first time since the beginning of the month, dropping back to 9-10-5. After Alberta (10-10-4) lost 3-2 at Manitoba, MacEwan remains just a point behind their cross-town rivals for second place in the West Division, which will come with a first round home playoff series.

The Griffins got off to hot start on Saturday, scoring twice in a span of 28 seconds inside the first minute of the game.

Ethan Sundar popped the water bottle on their first shot just 14 seconds in before captain Sam Simard converted a Logan Dowhaniuk pass 42 seconds in on the Griffins' first powerplay of the game.

UBC quickly struck just 35 seconds later, though, as Sasha Mutala cut the lead in half before Chris Douglas' tally 7:38 into the contest knotted the score.

Caden Cabana restored MacEwan's lead 2:20 into the second period when he potted a rebound off Brody Tallman's shot on the powerplay.

But goals by Josh Williams and Jake Wright put UBC back on top.

The resilient Griffins, though, would tie the score again before the second period was done as Dwayne Jean Jr. ripped a one-timer off of Keaton Dowhaniuk's pass for MacEwan's third powerplay goal of the contest.

"I just liked our emotional control, mental toughness when stuff (didn't go) our way," said Dailey. "Instead of folding, we found a way to compete. In the second period there, we killed off some five-on-threes and ended up scoring to tie it. 

"I was just really impressed with our guys' effort and their mental toughness to keep going with what happened."

UBC's Scott Atkinson scored the winner 2:58 into the third period on the powerplay and the T-Birds were pressing for more, denied, however by Zac Onyskiw, who made some big stops to keep the Griffins alive.

"Goaltending was a big one," said Dailey of what made them more competitive on Saturday, following an 8-3 loss Friday. "Ony made some really big saves for us. In the third, there was three in a row that were just really good saves."

Liam Kindree hit an open net with five seconds left to seal the win.

Onyskiw stopped 26 of 31 for MacEwan, while Cole Schwebius made 19 saves on 23 shots for UBC.

Sundar and Simard both finished with a goal and an assist, while Keaton Dowhaniuk had two helpers.

Dailey noted Simard came up big at both ends of the ice.

"I would like to shout out the PK guys for the sacrifices they made," he said. "I think Simard, both his hands are swollen and guys were just really committed to blocking shots and putting their bodies on the line.

"That's him, man," he added of his captain. "He does it all for us and I'm happy to see him get rewarded because he cares so much and works so hard. He's definitely a two-way guy who does a little bit of everything for our group."

The Griffins are back on the road next weekend as they visit Trinity Western Feb. 6-7.