VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey team is partnering with the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants as well as Simon Fraser University and Trinity Western University in the inaugural Captains Cup tournament next month.
 
The 'Birds will face both the Simon Fraser Clan men's hockey team and the Trinity Western Spartans in a round-robin style tournament starting September 15th at the Point Grey campus.
 
Each team will face the others once each and the team with the best record will receive the Captains Cup.
 
The winners will also be invited to a Vancouver Giants home game and will participate in a ceremonial puck drop.


 
Along with providing an avenue for exhibition play prior to the beginning of each team's respective season, the Captains Cup aims to promote the high level of quality university hockey offered in the Lower Mainland by UBC (U SPORTS), SFU and TWU (BCIHL).
 
"That's the big bonus for us out of this," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon.
 
"The Giants talk to a lot of prospects who might be concerned about academics going the WHL route and they can point out how you can go to the WHL, play at the highest level possible and if you also want to go the school route you can go to UBC, Trinity Western or SFU, any of these schools and be able to go to a prestigious university on a WHL scholarship."
 
For every season played in the Western Hockey League, players earn a one-year guaranteed scholarship to the post-secondary institution of their choice, including tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees. WHL clubs combine to act as the leading supplier of hockey scholarships in Western Canada, with over 200 players enjoying a WHL Scholarship each year.
 
"The WHL is the leading supplier of scholarships in Western Canada, and offers the most comprehensive scholarship in North America," said Dale Saip, Vice President, Business Development with the Vancouver Giants. "The Vancouver Giants are pleased to support this exhibition series profiling our student-athlete alumni who are furthering their education while still competing at a very high level of hockey."


 
The vast majority of UBC's roster comprises former WHL players and as Butenschon states, the relationship with Major Junior is absolutely key.
 
"I'm able to watch a ton of WHL games and be in contact with their staff," said UBC's bench boss.
 
"If I didn't have the Giants in our backyard it would make our lives a lot more difficult in trying to recruit players for our program."
 
The T-Birds open the first-ever Captains Cup tournament at home against the SFU Clan on Friday, September 15th. The Clan will host the Spartans the following night and the tournament will conclude at UBC when the 'Birds host TWU on Friday, September 29th.
 
Captains Cup Schedule
September 15^th – SFU @ UBC – 7 p.m. (Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre)
September 16^th – TWU @ SFU – 7 p.m. (Surrey Sport & Leisure Centre)
September 30^th – TWU @ UBC – 2 p.m. (Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre)
 
Overtime Rules
Five-minute overtime, followed by a shootout.
 
Tiebreaker Rules
If two teams are tied in points, the team that won the head-to-head matchup will be declared the winner.
 
If three teams are tied in points, the winner will be declared by the team with:
1) The most total goals for
2) The fewest total goals against
3) The fewest total penalty minutes
4) The team who scored the earliest goal in the event