VANCOUVER – The UBC women's hockey program announced Thursday afternoon that forward Brie Bellerive of the NCAA's Clarkson University would be transferring to UBC to play for the Thunderbirds in the 2017-18 hockey season. Bellerive is pursuing a degree in Business.
The move is a homecoming for Bellerive, who played minor hockey in North Vancouver, before moving on to suit up for the Okanagan Hockey Academy in her later teenage years.
"I'm really excited to be able to play in my home city, in front of my family and friends. Especially to play for UBC, that's going to be really awesome," says Bellerive.
Fresh off winning an NCAA title with Clarkson in the 2017 Frozen Four, Bellerive was also a member of the U-18 Canadian team that won gold at the 2014 IIHF Women's Hockey Championships and brings a championship pedigree to the Thunderbirds.
"Brie is a power forward who has high end skill and skating ability. She will bring a lot of experience from world championships and being a part of a NCAA championship into our locker room," says UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "She will fit in with our team culture and brings leadership and character to our room as well. She comes from a great hockey family and we are looking forward to working with and developing her, as she has a lot of potential."
"It definitely wasn't easy to get there. My team and myself definitely learnt a lot about ourselves and what it takes to get to that level," says Bellerive when asked about Clarkson's NCAA title.
Bellerive played for Thomas on Team BC in her junior hockey days and also knows UBC assistant coach Dom DiRocco well.
"It's a great coaching staff at UBC," adds Bellerive, who is very excited about how transferring will affect her family.
"They're thrilled. It's been tough for them because I moved out when I was fourteen. I think it's amazing for them to be able to watch me again."
The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team won a bronze medal at the 2017 U SPORTS Championships, after winning the silver medal in 2016.
