While the Vancouver air cools, UBC's men’s hockey team is heating up in preparation for the upcoming season. After a record-breaking season last year, the Thunderbirds are looking to continue this success throughout this season.
“Expectations are really high again just because of the way it ended at nationals for us,” said head coach Sven Butenschon. “We took a big step forward [in] winning Canada West and accomplished something that hasn’t been done in a really long time, but we still have another level in my opinion.”
The Thunderbirds were ranked number one in the conference preseason coaches poll, with six first place votes.
The men’s hockey team won 22 regular season games and lost 6 last year, finishing first in the conference. Along with this, the ‘Birds won the Canada West championship for the first time in 53 years, setting the stage for even greater seasons to come. However, despite their incredible success, the Thunderbirds season was cut short after being eliminated in the opening game of the U Sports National Championship.
“We had such a memorable year and such a historical year that it will be hard to replicate that,” Butenschon said. “So it’s going to be a challenging year, but we are expecting the group to rise to the occasion again.”
While some experienced players have left the team, including Jake Kryski, Ryan Pouliot and Jonathan Smart, most of the team will be returning for the new season. This includes captain Chris Douglas and Jake Lee, who led the team in points during the regular season and was named WHL Grad of the Month twice last season.
Additionally, the team’s top goalscorers will be returning for another season. Sam Huo — who scored 21 goals last season — as well as Liam Kindree and Scott Atkinson, who both scored 15 goals each, are expected to be big players again.
“We have such a great group of guys that everybody kind of chips in, in the leadership area and I think that’s what makes the group special,” said Butenschon. “Once the regular season is playing and the intensity is amped up ... that’s when you’re going to see the Scott Atkinson’s, the Jake Lee’s and the Chris Douglas’s take another step in the leadership role.”
New faces will be joining the team this season, including forward Carson Latimer who was drafted 123rd overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2021. From the WHL, defenseman Alex Serraglio, who played for the Tri-City Americans and WHL goalie of the year Brett Mirwald from the Vancouver Giants have also joined the roster.
“We have added really high character players again that have fit in really well so far and have looked awesome in training camp and they’re going to be expected to contribute in the regular season,” said Butenschon.
Looking ahead, the team has its eyes firmly set on nationals after the early exit last year.
“[We've] got to get to nationals again no matter what and redeem ourselves,” the head coach emphasized.
This Friday, the T-Birds will start their season against the Trinity Western University Spartans at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at 7 p.m.
Scott Atkinson is The Ubyssey's account manager. He was not involved in this article's publication.
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