VANCOUVER – 19 months since the abrupt end of the 2019-20 Canada West Women's Hockey season, the UBC Thunderbirds open up a new year against a new opponent, as they take on the Trinity Western Spartans in a home-and-home starting Friday, October 15th in Langley followed by the 'Birds' first home game Saturday evening.
"Words can't describe it, I think everybody is almost in shock as this week started that this is happening now," said UBC Head Coach Graham Thomas as a year-and-a-half of ups and downs culminates with the return of conference play. "The whole team is just super excited, we're getting really ramped up and prepared and excited to finally play Canada West games again."
Entering the new campaign third in the preseason coaches poll, when the T-Birds hit the ice at the Langley Events Centre they'll look a whole lot different with two seasons' worth of new recruits featured prominently on the roster.
"We have a lot of new faces, it'll be a very interesting league," said Thomas who's now into his tenth season behind the T-Birds' bench. "It's already extremely competitive and now you're adding in the unknowns of these two years of freshmen classes."
Those unknowns include virtually the entirety of TWU's roster as one of the two new entrants into Canada West this season along with Grant MacEwan.
As for the Thunderbirds, familiar faces have graduated, including standout goaltender Tory Micklash.
But there are plenty of promising new T-Birds set to make their debuts with the likes of forwards Mia Bierd and Annalise Wong, and goaltender Kayla McDougall.
While the past 19 months has had its share of difficulties, UBC's coaching staff took advantage of what the extra time had to offer.
"For us, it was really good for (Assistant Coach Mike Sommer) and I and our staff to have a bit of a clean slate and a refresh so it's been really healthy for us in a lot of ways. Obviously it's been really frustrating in a lot of ways but there are also opportunities and things we can revamp."
The T-Birds and Spartans have played each other once previously in preseason action back on October 1st when UBC earned a 2-1 win.
"They're going to work hard," said Thomas of the Spartans. "When we did play them that one game they had very strong goaltending and team defence. They're going to be opportunistic and excited and playing with a lot of jam and enthusiasm."
For the first time in UBC's history, they have a fellow Canada West opponent local enough to permit a home-and-home series such as this weekend.
As excited as the team is for Friday's season opener, the opportunity to return to the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre Saturday night is perhaps even more special.
Puck drop Friday at the LEC is set for 7:00 p.m. PT. Saturday's home game is also scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance. Both games will also be streamed live on Canada West TV.
