March 22, 2026
Thunderbirds erupt in second period to defeat host Waterloo for fifth place
Team Stats
Scoring Summary
1st
- 01:06 -
PP - Nikki Mcdonald
(Waterloo)
2nd
- 03:23 -
Olivia Buckley
(UBC)
2nd
- 08:38 -
Jaylyn Morris
(UBC)
2nd
- 11:15 -
Ilona Markova
(UBC)
2nd
- 17:39 -
SH - Vanessa Schaefer
(UBC)
3rd
- 04:05 -
SH - Keiara Raitt
(Waterloo)
3rd
- 08:37 -
PP - Ilona Markova
(UBC)
3rd
- 15:18 -
Presley Zinger
(UBC)
3rd
- 15:54 -
Jacquelyn Fleming
(UBC)
Game Leaders
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | UBC | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| PowerPlays | 1 for 5 | 1 for 4 |
| Shorthanded Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties (min) | 7 (14) | 8 (16) |
| Shots on Goal | 40 | 19 |
| Face Offs Won | 27 | 35 |
It was an early start at the end of a long week, but the UBC Thunderbirds showed they still had plenty left in the tank.
Playing at 8 a.m. Eastern — the equivalent of 5 a.m. back in Vancouver — UBC capped its great trek across the country in emphatic fashion, erupting for four goals in the second period en route to a 7-2 victory over the host Waterloo Warriors to claim fifth place at the 2026 U SPORTS Women’s Hockey Championship on Sunday at the Woolwich Memorial Centre.
Waterloo gave the home crowd an early jolt, opening the scoring just 1:06 into the game on a power play marker from Nikki McDonald. But despite carrying the lead through the first intermission, the momentum was short-lived as UBC’s depth and firepower took over.
UBC, the Canada West champions and tournament’s top seed, flipped the script in the middle frame. Olivia Buckley tied the game early in the second before Jaylyn Morris and Ilona Markova scored less than three minutes apart to put the Thunderbirds firmly in control. Vanessa Schaefer added a shorthanded tally late in the period to extend the lead to 4-1.
Markova, named UBC’s player of the game, delivered a dominant performance with two goals and two assists, including a power-play marker in the third period that restored a four-goal cushion after Waterloo briefly cut into the deficit.
The Thunderbirds continued to press in the final frame, with Presley Zinger and Jacquelyn Fleming scoring 36 seconds apart to cap the scoring.
UBC outshot Waterloo 40-19 and controlled much of the play after the opening period, while goaltender Elise Hugens turned aside 17 shots for the win.
Tatum James, Waterloo’s player of the game, was part of a Warriors effort that started strong but couldn’t keep pace with the defending national powerhouse.
UBC finishes its season at 32-2-1 (26-2 CW), while Waterloo ends its campaign at 19-12-1 (17-8-1 OUA).
NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME
UBC — Ilona Markova
Waterloo — Tatum James
Waterloo — Tatum James