VANCOUVER – The new Canada West hockey season starts off with a bang for the UBC Thunderbirds as they host the perennial powerhouse Alberta Golden Bears for the first weekend series of the campaign starting Friday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
It's a rematch of last year's conference semifinal series that went the distance with the 'Birds falling one game short of advancing to a third straight Canada West Final.
That disappointment hasn't dissipated much over the last six months, making for an intense start to the season and an early shot at some redemption.
"From day one in training camp it was all about preparation for this Friday night against Alberta," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon who begins his eighth season manning the blue and gold. "The guys have worked extremely hard and put in a lot of time and hours and sweat. They've been very purposeful with their mindset and I think everyone's on the same page. When you see Alberta on the schedule it gets the juices flowing and I think it's going to be a great way to start the season. The fact it was Alberta (who ended our season) and we were so close last year and we just couldn't close it and get the job done, that makes it even more personal for this Friday."
Despite failing to make a third straight league final in 2023 – and thus, a third straight trip to the University Cup tournament – the T-Birds have firmly established themselves as a legitimate contender in the Canada West. The team returns the vast majority of last year's squad including 2023 all-rookie team members
Sasha Mutala and
Jake Lee, the former of which led the 'Birds with 35 points, the highest total by a UBC player in eight years.
"I don't think we're looking too long term right now, we're still a pretty young group," Butenschon insisted. "We're still focussing on getting better every day, not wasting any time, not taking anything for granted."
Going a perfect 5-0 in pre-season action, the team knows Friday night takes things to a much higher level. Ranked third in the pre-season coaches' poll, the 'Birds will be gunning to make an early statement against the second ranked Bears.
"Alberta always brings the best out of our team. It's a great measuring stick, always. The fact it's the opening weekend, as coaches, we really like it. You're going to have to come out of the gates hot. Last year we had Calgary that first weekend and we played some of our best hockey and Calgary went on to win Canada West. I'm expecting us to come out this weekend the same way."
Having met in the playoffs each of the last three seasons (with UBC winning the 2020 semifinal), there's no love lost between the two conference rivals. Each team picked up a win in their lone weekend series during the regular season which took place at Edmonton's Clare Drake Arena in November.
In an oddity of schedule making, the Golden Bears haven't paid a visit to Vancouver since September of 2019, the first meeting between the two at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in their last 16 games.
Puck drop for the 2023-24 Canada West season opener is 7:00 p.m. PT Friday, September 29 with Saturday's rematch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Tickets for both games are available now and both will also be
streamed live on Canada West TV.
