EDMONTON – The 2018 U SPORTS national championship host UBC Thunderbirds are the early frontrunners to take home their record 19^th Canada West title, coming in tops in the conference's annual preseason coaches' poll.

The 'Birds earned 139 points and eight out of a possible 12 first-place votes as the conference's 13 squads get set for this coming weekend's opening matches. UBC has a bye in the first week of conference play as the T-Birds are set to open the 2018 season against the Fraser Valley Cascades on August 31^st in Abbotsford.

Highlights:

• The defending CW champion UBC Thunderbirds have topped the annual pre-season coaches poll
• UBC earned eight first-place votes, while Alberta (4) and Thompson Rivers (1) also got first-place nods from around the conference
• The 2018 Canada West season opens this Friday, with a full set of games on the schedule both Saturday and Sunday

 


The T-Birds, who earned the Canada West championship for the 18th time in program history last season, enter the new campaign as the narrow favourites over the Alberta Golden Bears, who finished second in the poll with 134 points and four first-place votes.

Alberta was the conference's top regular season team a year ago, going 9-1-4 to top the Prairie Division. The Bears yielded just nine goals, while scoring 36 – both tops in Canada West. Alberta eventually finished fourth in the conference, losing to Thompson Rivers in the bronze medal game.

The 2017 T-Birds went 10-4-1 in 2017 finishing first in the Pacific Division. After dispatching the Trinity Western Spartans in the Canada West final, the 'Birds finished fourth at the U SPORTS tournament losing on penalty kicks to the host Thompson Rivers WolfPack in the bronze medal match.

Rounding out the top five in the poll were the Trinity Western Spartans (121 pts.), Calgary Dinos (97 pts.), and WolfPack (95 pts.).



The 2018 Canada West men's soccer season kicks off this Friday when the UNBC Timberwolves host the Victoria Vikes in Prince George, B.C.

UBC hosts the Simon Fraser University Clan this Friday, August 24^th at 7:00 p.m. PT for their final preseason tune-up before opening the season the following weekend. The 'Birds' home opener goes Sunday, September 2^nd at 2:00 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium.

You can watch extensive CW MSOC action all season long by tuning into Canada West TV – the official streaming home of Canada West.

All Pacific Division teams will webcast all home games this season, while select Prairie Division teams will also webcast every home game. New for 2018, you can also watch every game on demand, even from those schools who don't webcast live.

To purchase your 2018 Canada West TV pass, click here. Early bird pricing is in effect until Friday, Aug. 24.
 
2018 CANADA WEST PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
TEAM / POINTS (FIRST-PLACE VOTES)
 
1. UBC Thunderbirds / 139 (8)
2. Alberta Golden Bears / 134 (4)
3. Trinity Western Spartans / 121
4. Calgary Dinos / 97
5. Thompson Rivers WolfPack / 95 (1)
6. Saskatchewan Huskies / 83
7. Mount Royal Cougars / 72
8. UNBC Timberwolves / 60
9. Victoria Vikes / 59
10. UBCO Heat / 58
11. UFV Cascades / 49
12. Lethbridge Pronghorns / 24
13. MacEwan Griffins / 16
 
NOTES: Coaches rank all conference teams excluding their own. First-place vote worth 12 pts., second-place 11 pts. etc.