U Sports Playoff Update: Birds Stun Bears

This past weekend saw the conclusion of another round of playoffs in both the OUA and Canada West - and it will go down as one of the wildest weekends in U Sports men's hockey history. We saw both top seeds in the OUA East - #1 Carleton (despite winning the longest overtime game in OUA history in game 1) and #2 UQTR - get eliminated as well as the OUA West's #2 seed Ryerson, who got knocked off by the #8 seeded Western in overtime in game 3.

Of course, those all pale in comparison to what happened in Edmonton where the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds pulled off the biggest playoff upset since 2010, shocking the country by eliminating the Alberta Golden Bears in three games. Not only did the victory give UBC a berth in the Canada West final and guarantee them a spot in the University Cup for the first time in 42 years, but it also ensured that Alberta will miss the tournament for the first time since 2012.

The series also produced on of the best/most clutch saves you will ever see. With the T-Birds holding on to a 2-1 lead with less three minutes remaining in the 3rd and deciding game, Rylan Toth made this save for the ages off of the Bears Tyler Soy...

This was the save that Toth made with less than 3 minutes left when you just knew he wasn’t going to be beat. https://t.co/sbkumoGViE pic.twitter.com/DC62Epd0DO

— Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260) February 24, 2020

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT

- Three berths at University Cup (Acadia + Champion + Runner-Up or Acadia + Finalist + Bronze Medal Winner)

#1 UNB Reds (26-4-0) defeated #4 Moncton Aigles Bleus 3 games to 0 (7-2, 7-3, 4-1)

#2 Acadia Axemen (19-9-2) lead #3 Saint Mary's Huskies 2 games to 1 (4-1, 5-2, 2-6)

ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

- Three berths at University Cup (OUA East Winner + OUA West Winner + Bronze Medal Winner)

OUA EAST

#5 Concordia Stingers (13-10-5) defeated #1 Carleton Ravens (24-3-1) 2 games to 0 (4-3 OT3, 3-1)

#3 Ottawa Gee-Gees (17-7-4) defeated #2 UQTR Patriotes (19-6-3) 2 games to 1 (1-2, 5-3, 4-2)

OUA WEST

#8 Western Mustangs (11-13-4) defeated #2 Ryerson Rams (20-5-3) 2 games to 1 (1-4, 5-2, 3-2 OT)

#3 Guelph Gryphons (17-6-5) defeated #5 Brock Badgers (14-12-2) 2 games to 0 (3-2, 2-1 OT)

CANADA WEST

- Two berths at University Cup (Champion + Runner-Up)

#5 UBC Thunderbirds (9-14-5) defeated #1 Alberta Golden Bears (23-5-0) 2 games to 1 (3-2 OT, 1-6, 2-1)

#2 Saskatchewan Huskies (22-4-2) defeated #3 Calgary Dinos (18-7-3) 2 games to 0 (2-1, 5-4 OT2)