VANCOUVER – Expectations change with time. From the end of the last U SPORTS hockey season, which came to an abrupt end in March of 2020, the expectations for the UBC Thunderbirds Men's Hockey team have risen substantially.
Since securing their first berth at the national championship tournament in over 40 years, the T-Birds have added a plethora of top-end talent from across the country as they intend to get right back to the University Cup and finish what they started.
That quest to get back to the big dance officially begins Friday night as the 'Birds open up the 2021-22 Canada West season, hosting the Trinity Western Spartans at a sold out Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Friday night marks not only the return of Canada West hockey, but the first conference game for the Spartans, one of two new entries to the league along with Grant MacEwan.
UBC has played the Spartans twice in preseason action, including most recently last Saturday when the T-Birds earned a 7-2 victory to clinch their third straight Captains Cup.
Despite a longer preseason than usual and a later start to the conference schedule, the typical excitement and nervous energy abounds.
"I think we needed that time, the players needed that time," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon who enters his sixth season as T-Birds bench boss. "I think as a coach you always feel like you can do more, it's always a bit of an anxious feeling as the season opener creeps up on you so we're still trying to prepare but not jam too much down the throat of the guys because again, with the student-athlete schedule, you have to be real careful of that. Trying to manage the energy and excitement for Friday but at the same time be totally prepared."
Despite the Spartans being one of the conference's newest teams, UBC's first opponent of the season is their most familiar as the two have already developed a good west coast rivalry.
"They're big, they can skate, and they are relentless without the puck," Butesnchon described the Spartans. "We're going to be prepared for relentless pressure and a very physical game. Every game we've played them has been extremely difficult for our guys so the challenge is always to not get frustrated and stick to the game plan, and make sure everybody is involved and wear them down."
Friday night will see the official Canada West debut for a number of rookie Thunderbirds, including the likes of forwards
Jack Wismer,
Carson Miller and
Scott Atkinson, and defencemen
Matthew Smith and Conner MacDonald, among others.
In total, up to ten of UBC's 20 dressed players in the home opener will be making their first Thunderbirds appearance.
"It's a bit of a different group, we're still trying to figure out our identity a bit. But one thing's for sure, we can skate and we play a very high tempo brand of hockey. And what I've been able to witness here in the last week or so is the desire to go to the dirty areas and go to the front of the net. It's pretty cool when you have a skilled group that plays a gritty game."
Friday night will mark the first home game at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in 616 days, dating back to the final regular season game of the 2019-20 season.
"It's been a long time coming. I think we're just going to try to enjoy it and savour it and be grateful that we're able to get back on the ice and play the game we love."
Puck drop Friday night is 7:00 p.m. PT. The game is sold out, but will be streamed live on Canada West TV.
