VANCOUVER – Back at the University Cup national championship for the third time in the last four seasons, the expectation this week in Toronto for the UBC Thunderbirds is noticeably different compared to their last appearance two years ago: this team is here to capture the program's first-ever U SPORTS title.
Set to face the McGill University Redbirds at the U Cup for the first time in Friday's quarter-final, the T-Birds continue to adjust to their temporary home at the Mattamy Athletic Centre – formerly Maple Leaf Gardens – and the three hour time change, all the while focussing on their opponent.
"It's been a bit of a battle with the long travel day and the time change and making sure everybody's taken care of," said UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon, recently crowned Canada West Coach of the Year. "We're going to start implementing some of the things we think are important going into the weekend so it feels good to focus more on hockey now."
Hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University, Maple Leaf Gardens is playing host to the national tournament for the first time since 1997. The iconic building looked very different back then, at least on the inside, but the feeling of practicing and competing at one of hockey's greatest shrines makes for a unique experience.
"It's very cool, cooler than I thought even," said Butenschon who began his NHL career in the 1997-98 season but never had the chance to play at Maple Leaf Gardens which hosted its final Leafs game the following year. "You never know after the renovation how they can still capture some of the ambience that it used to have. But the coolness factor is through the roof. It's just a really cool venue and TMU has done a great job so far hosting us."
As fascinating a venue as it is, the real reason for UBC's trip to the Big Smoke is to accomplish something the program has never done before – hoist the David Johnston trophy as Canadian University Champions.
"The excitement is going to be about controlling your emotions come game time. The preparation during the week, do you have a business-like mindset focussing on your job rather than the tournament, rather than the sightseeing, rather than just happy to be here and having fun. This time it feels more like a business trip."
The T-Birds' most recent tournament appearance two years ago in Wolfville, Nova Scotia saw the blue and gold fall in their quarter-final game to the eventual champion UQTR Patriotes in double overtime.
That tournament came on the heels of UBC's 2020 tournament which ended before it began due to the onset of the pandemic.
But this time around, the T-Birds enter as Canada West champions, having earned third seed in the eight-team competition. The novelty factor of making it this far is gone with the team looking to punch their ticket to a semifinal game for the first time since 1977.
The sixth-seed Redbirds are this year's OUA bronze medallists having defeated the eighth-seed Brock Badgers last week in St. Catharines.
UBC and McGill have never faced each other at a University Cup and it's been 13 years since the two met for a two-game exhibition series in Vancouver.
"They're very skilled up front, very offensive minded with dynamic players. We're going to have to do a really good job in the D zone, shutting that down. We can't turn pucks over in the middle of the ice because it will feed their transition game. So, I think good puck management, eating the clock in the O zone – which is kind of our MO anyway – I think the things that we do well are going to be really important in this matchup."
The winner of Friday's quarter-final will meet either the Patriotes or the University of Moncton who play in Friday's earlier game.
Puck drop between the T-Birds and Redbirds is set for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT) at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The game will be available live on
CBC GEM and
CBC Sports' YouTube Channel.
