VANCOUVER –As the number one ranked UBC Thunderbirds men's hockey program continues its march toward the ultimate goal of a Canada West and U SPORTS National Championship, the team has some fresh perspectives behind the bench to help guide the squad.

Following the recent departure of former lead assistant coach Myles Fitzgerald who took a new position with the PWHL's Vancouver Goldeneyes, the T-Birds have added former UBC defenceman Conner McDonald as well as former NHL centreman Jamie Lundmark to their coaching staff.

"I knew it would be a little bit of a downer when we made the announcement to the boys that Myles was leaving. The ability to bring in two people to replace one I thought was going to be pretty powerful," said UBC head coach, Sven Butenschon, who also sees the benefit to bringing in new sets of eyes mid-season. "We're trying to stay one step ahead of everybody and those two guys are a huge part of that. I want to push guys into areas and opportunities that maybe they haven't been in before because I just believe in what they're doing. I know they still have another level to get to and with the support of Conner and Jamie I think we're going to achieve what we're all here to do."



Officially beginning their respective tenures with the T-Birds late in the first semester, McDonald and Lundmark's impact has certainly been positive with the team entering the new year on a 17-game point streak having outscored their opposition by a combined 40-21 margin since mid-November.

While the new hires mark a decided change for the program, it's hardly a change of scenery for McDonald who played the past four seasons with the blue and gold.

"Any opportunity to be able to represent and be part of UBC and a program like this with the guys and to be able to work with Sven Butenschon on a daily basis, it's a no-brainer of an opportunity," said McDonald who put up 46 points in 99 regular season games patrolling the T-Bird blue line with another nine points in 20 playoff games. "I'm tremendously excited and hoping to run with it as long as I can. It's been an absolute honour for me to don the colours here the last number of years, but to continue my tenure here, that means the world to me as well. I just want to try and help these guys be in the best situation they can to go out and perform so it means a lot to me to be here, without a doubt."

This isn't the first coaching gig for McDonald either, as the former Edmonton Oil King spent time assisting with various minor hockey programs over the past couple seasons.



"He's kind of born to coach," Butenschon said of his new lead assistant. "He enjoys it, he enjoys working with young hockey players. It's a quick jump though, six months ago he's suiting up and on the bench and out there battling with the guys and not long after he's behind the bench trying to guide them. That's a tough transition and it's not easy, but so far, so good."

"Going through and playing for the program the last number of years, I'm trying to translate that knowledge as best I can to the other side of the bench," McDonald added. "We've founded a lot of working relationships with these guys already for myself on the back end so now stepping behind the bench there's a greater understanding perhaps than for most being thrust into that position. It's been a real benefit for me. The guys have made it really easy for me to transition in, they're top notch in every way, shape and form so it's a pleasure to be here."

A veteran of 295 NHL games, Lundmark brings a wealth of experience to the T-Birds staff. In addition to his 17 year professional career, the ninth-overall selection in the 1999 NHL Draft has also built a solid coaching resume since his retirement from playing, most recently as an assistant coach and director of player development for Princeton University's Women's Hockey program.



"You're getting a hockey guy, he's lived and breathed hockey his whole life, he knows the game very well, he's probably seen any kind of situation," said Butenschon of Lundmark's invaluable experience. "So far it's worked out well. The one thing I didn't expect from him is his ability and willingness to build on relationships quickly. He's constantly talking to guys, he's been really into getting to know the guys at a deeper level and finding out how everyone ticks and how the whole machine works here, it's been pretty neat to watch."

A native of Edmonton, Lundmark scored 40 goals and 99 total points in the NHL split between the New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to play professionally in Sweden, the KHL and spent his final six years of pro in Austria.

Now back in western Canada, Lundmark will be aiming to help get the T-Birds back to the Maritimes come late March as the team takes a run at the 2026 University Cup tournament in Halifax, along with the goal of a second Canada West banner in the last three seasons.