VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team will look to get off on the right foot as they open their 2015-16 Canada West campaign with a set of back-to-back contests against the Mount Royal Cougars this weekend. The season opener for both squads is set for Friday, October 9, at 7 p.m. (PT), while the puck is set to drop for round two at 6 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, October 10. Both games will be held at the Thunderbird Arena at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
 
The T-Birds are coming off of one of the most successful regular seasons in recent program history, as after a 13-10-5 campaign and a fourth overall finish in the league's 2014-15 standings, UBC earned the right to host a Canada West Playoff series for the first time since 1971.
 
The T-Birds went on to top the Manitoba Bisons 2-1 in the opening round of the post-season, but fell to the eventual CIS University Cup Champion Alberta Golden Bears in the Canada West semifinals by a 2-0 series decision.
 
"We'd like to improve on last year," said new T-Birds head coach Adam Shell.  "In our perfect world, two teams make the [CIS University Cup Men's Hockey Championship] from our league, and we'd like to be one of them. I think there's probably eight teams that feel that way, but after last year's improvement, and [former head coach Tyler Kuntz's] spectacular job recruiting, I think we're in a position to do just that."
 
In his first year at the helm of the Blue and Gold, Shell admits that stepping into his new role has been easier than expected, citing an immediate comfort level with assistant coaches Sven Butenschon, Kevin Seibel, and Justin McCrae. Butenschon, like Shell, is a rookie behind the UBC bench, while McCrae and Seibel are the veterans on staff, in their second year with the team.
 
"It couldn't have gone any better than it has," said Shell of the transition to working with his new coaching staff. "They're a great group of people, and have been very accepting, and open, to what we're trying to do. Now, I think our goals are pretty much aligned – we want to take this program to the next step, and continue what [previous head coach Tyler Kuntz] did, so it's been terrific.
 
The guys behind the bench might be new, but on the ice, the T-Birds are going ahead with a heavily veteran-laden roster, particularly among their forward ranks. Third-year forwards Anthony Bardaro (Delta, B.C.), Luke Lockhart (Burnaby, B.C.), and Nick Buonassisi (Coquitlam, B.C.), who ranked first, third, and fourth on the team in scoring last season, will be relied on heavily following the graduation of stalwarts Cole Wilson and Nate Fleming.  On the backend, fourth-year defender Neil Manning (Nanaimo, B.C.) and third-year rearguard Wes Vannieuwenhuizen (Chilliwack, B.C.) will be looked to for defensive stability and some offensive pop from the backend, stepping up in the absence of former captain Ben Schmidt, who signed with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL upon graduating at the end of last season.
 
Shell has been impressed by his veteran core off of the ice, but on it, he's looking for one thing - improvement.
 
"They've been terrific thus far," said Shell. "Your team is only as good as your leadership, and our leadership has been outstanding, especially in terms of accepting a new coach and completely buying into the system we're trying to run. My expectations are for them to be better than they were last year – these guys are one year older, one year more experienced, and more familiar with the league, so I expect them to further improve their strengths, and shore up their weaknesses."
 
However, just because Shell will be looking to his veterans doesn't mean there aren't a few first-year players who have the talent to make an instant impact for the 'Birds. Among the forward ranks, Shell commented on the upside of center Joel Hamilton (Cochrane, Alta.) and winger Austin Vetterl (Surrey, B.C.). Chase Clayton (Abbotsford, B.C.) is the third addition to Shell's forward corps.
 
"Our rookie class is very interesting. The forwards are very versatile, and Hamilton and Vetterl could be absolutely elite players in this league," said Shell.
 
Hamilton, a veteran of three WHL teams, had his best season in 2013-14 as a member of the Vancouver Giants, posting 13 goals and 33 assists for 46 points. Vetterl, a former member of the Vancouver Giants and Kootenay Ice, finished his final, and highest-scoring, WHL season with 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points.
 
On the blueline, UBC's five new recruits are headlined by Kyle Becker (Langley, B.C.) and Josh Connolly (Prince George, B.C.), while Devin Fafard (Carlyle, Sask.), Raymond Grewal (Prince George, B.C.), and Riley Guenther (Calgary) round out the class.
 
Becker, a 6-foot-4 rearguard out of the Medicine Hat Tigers, was a consistent offensive threat during his WHL career, posting just above 20 points per season over his last three years with the Tigers. Connolly, the younger brother of former sixth overall NHL draft pick Brett Connolly, split his final junior campaign between the Blazers and his hometown Prince George Cougars, posting 13 goals and 41 assists in just 64 games with both teams.
 
"Our five new D could really upgrade our quality on defence. Becker and Connolly, in particular, could be all-stars in this league as soon as this year, but if not, down the road. The recruits really solidify an area for us that needed a skill upgrade from last season."
 
In net, continuity is king for UBC, as third-years Matt Hewitt (New Westminster, B.C.) and Khaleed Devji (Vancouver), alongside second-year Eric Williams (Langley, B.C.), all return to the Thunderbirds crease as veterans. Hewitt and Williams operated a time-share last season, with each getting 14 games in the regular season. While Hewitt posted a record of 6-5-3, with a 0.894 save percentage (sv%) and a 2.95 goals-against average (GAA), Williams had markedly better numbers, putting up an 0.922 sv% and a 2.27 GAA en route to a 7-5-2 record, as well as a place on the 2014-15 Canada West All-Rookie Team.
 
Mount Royal will provide a top-tier gauge for where Shell's team is at, as the Cougars finished third in Canada West last season, while featuring two of the top five scorers in the conference, forwards Cody Chartier and Tyler Fiddler.  After a season in which he potted 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in just 31 games, Chartier was named a 2014-15 Canada West First-Team All-Star, while Fiddler was named a Canada West Second-Team All-Star after his season of eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points.
 
The Cougars, who averaged nearly three goals a game last season, also have some quality returning pieces on the blueline, highlighted by Williams' fellow Canada West All-Rookie team member, defender MacKenzie Johnston. Johnston stepped onto the CIS scene last season and dominated from day one, notching 18 points in 28 games, which was good for fourth in Canada West scoring among defenceman. Third-year defenceman Scott McKay also finished in the top 10 of that category after piling up two goals and 12 assists in 28 contests.
 
With their season opener rapidly approaching, Shell understands that they have to focus on one game at a time, but that doesn't mean they've lost sight of the bigger picture.
 
"First, everybody in that room understands that we have to get off to a good start," said Shell. "Ultimately, though, our goal isn't just to win any single game, it's to be in Halifax at nationals in March."