VANCOUVER – For the first time in seven months, the UBC Thunderbirds will play for stakes Friday night as they host the Manitoba Bisons to officially open up the 2026-27 Canada West Men's Hockey season.
Since falling to the Saskatchewan Huskies in last year's semifinal at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, plenty has changed with the T-Birds welcoming nine new faces to the dressing room.
But the goal and culture of the program has certainly not altered, and after a lengthy pre-season everyone, to a man, is amped and ready to go for real.
"It's a special game, it's a special week. Even the vibe in the dressing room right now and the practices this week are just as cool as the game in my opinion because it's just a buildup of emotions and intensity," said UBC head coach,
Sven Butenschon, now in his 11
th year guiding the blue and gold. "There's going to be a ton of energy in the building and I'm expecting it to be a really great game. Manitoba's come in here for Winter Classics before and we've gone toe-to-toe. They'll try to slow us down with their physicality and I'm expecting that kind of brand of hockey again."
Fourth-year forward
Ty Thorpe makes his regular season debut as the new T-Birds captain following the graduation of long-time leader
Chris Douglas. Coming off a career-best 38 point season, Thorpe – who captained the Vancouver Giants in his final year of junior – carries the torch forward into a new era of sorts along with fellow veterans in the likes of
Logan Doust,
Ben Keon and
Alex Serraglio.
"If you're an older guy in there, it's time to show your experience and all the big games you've played for the program over the years – it's now your time to shine," Butenschon said. "For all the younger guys, they're going to see another level of high-paced, heavy hockey."
Given the level of change, the 'Birds' eight pre-season games were key to work through new looks and line combinations, with the coaching staff impressed with what they've seen so far.
"Because of injuries and eight exhibition games and almost six weeks of training camp, we had the opportunity to do that stuff and I think it made for an opportunity for young guys to come out of their shell a little bit quicker because they found themselves up the lineup and on power plays and stuff like that. I think in the long run it'll be good and hopefully the guys have had enough chemistry with their lines that they're going to be able to play on Friday without thinking too much and just knowing where their linemates are going to be."
"
Austin Fraser's come in and stepped in seamlessly as an older guy with some experience. He's a big body and our league is big boy hockey so he fits in great.
Brayden Schuurman's come in just as advertised, an ability to play a two-way game and contribute offensively. All the first year guys have stepped in well.
Carter Savage battled an injury and got in a few games recently and looks great. (Gabriel) Guilbault on the back end looks great, (goaltender)
Brendan Gee looks awesome, so everybody's trending the right way."
While last year's eye-popping 34.3 per cent power play is unlikely to be matched in 2026-27, the 'Birds' pre-season has proven the offensive firepower needed is in the dressing room, while the focus will continue to be on a solid defensive structure to drive success.
"We've worked a lot on the defensive side of things, playing away from the puck, understanding we're not going to be able to score ourselves out of trouble some nights. The buy-in has been great, the focus on details in the defensive zone has been great. It's looking better and better and a lot of that is just reading off each other. Getting the reps in, reading off of each other and understanding assignments."
While the T-Birds have played the last two weekends of pre-season at home, the Bisons head to Vancouver straight from Omaha, Nebraska where they conclude a week-long, four-game NCAA road trip Wednesday night against the Mavericks.
Puck drop between the T-Birds and Bisons Friday, October 9, is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre with Saturday's rematch getting underway at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online or at the door, and both games will be
streamed live on Canada West TV.
