VANCOUVER – It's been more than seven months since the UBC Thunderbirds (2-0) won the Canada West banner on home ice but come Friday night, the defending conference champions will officially unveil their banner as they welcome the Trinity Western Spartans (1-1) at Father Bauer Arena.
The first half of a home-and-home series which concludes Saturday afternoon in Langley, the T-Birds' home opener will be the Point Grey debut for a very different looking UBC squad which won the program's seventh conference title back in March.
"The home opener is always exciting and obviously we're celebrating last year's team as well," said UBC head coach,
Graham Thomas. "Not taking anything away from this group, but it'll be nice to have some alumni around to celebrate last year's championship and putting up another banner is always fun. We're really looking forward to it."
Despite the 10 new additions which hit the ice in last week's season-opening weekend in Winnipeg, the 'Birds didn't appear to miss a beat from last year's 26-win squad, beginning the new campaign with a convincing sweep of the Bisons.
One familiar face donning the blue and gold, goaltender
Mya Lucifora, was in mid-season form to start the year, allowing just one goal against on 42 shots. The third-year from Ontario notched both wins in net including her eighth career shutout en route to being named this season's inaugural Canada West women's hockey Player of the Week.
But the focus has now quickly turned to the team's regional rival, a Spartans side which continues to improve, having given the 'Birds a number of tight battles last season.
"We always have close games and they'll be looking to play the spoiler role here Friday night," said Thomas. "They're going to be coming in hungry for sure. They're well coached and play hard with structure and do a lot of really great things. We have to make sure our focus is on Friday night and we're not getting caught up in the events of the home opener and the banner raising and just focussing on us and our game and bringing our intensity."
While the influx of recruits on the T-Birds means a whole lot of change from special teams to overall deployment, the team is benefitting from an overall injection of young energy.
"It's exciting to have this new youth movement. With no disrespect at all to our alumni and players from last year that accomplished so much, it's just different, and we're embracing it. It's fun and refreshing for our returning players too to have that new energy in the locker room."
Puck drop for the 2026-27 home opener is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 16 at Father Bauer Arena.
Tickets are available online or at the door and the game will also be streamed
live on Canada West TV.
