BACK TO SCHOOL | SFU Kicks Off Pre-Season at UBC, vs. Okanagan

VANCOUVER, BC — After their first championship season since 2011, SFU returns to the ice on September 9th against their long-time crosstown rival UBC Thunderbirds.

Although it is an exhibition game, it promises to be a high-stakes matchup as both teams will fight for pride and bragging rights over one another. Both SFU and UBC achieved relative success in 2022, and both will be looking to improve or match their results this season.

The UBC Thunderbirds had an impressive 2021-22 season where they went all the way to the Canada West final and were silenced by the University of Alberta Golden Bears in a 7-0 drubbing. However, UBC was able to compete in the U-Sports Championship and won their 3-game play-in round via sweep. The quarter-final was a tightly contested game that ended in double overtime with UBC losing out to the eventual champion UQTR by a score of 2-1.

The 2021-2022 season for SFU was one for the ages, sporting a measly 0 in their loss column they breezed through the playoffs and won the BCIHL championship for the first time since 2010-2011, going 14-0 throughout the regular season and playoffs. This year they seek to build on last year’s success and use their opportunity for a back-to-back championship, something they haven’t done since the 2010-2011 season. A win over their historic rivals would set a good tone for the beginning of the regular season.

This year the rivalry is accentuated by the return of goalie Patrick Zubick, who played for SFU in 2019-2020 and won the award for best goaltender after a stellar season in the BCIHL. This year he is slated to play with the UBC Thunderbirds and will face his former SFU squad for the first of two matchups this season.

SFU will be undoubtedly motivated to win as they seek revenge for the last meeting which proved to be eventful and entertaining with the Thunderbirds scoring a touchdown and then some, putting up 8 goals in an eventual 8-2 victory over SFU.

Then on Saturday, Sept. 10th, SFU will host their first pre-season game back at Bill Copeland Sports Centre against a new-look Okanagan Lakers team. The Lakers finished the 2022 season with a 2-12-4 pre- and regular season record and were eliminated in the BCIHL Championship Semi-Finals by the VIU Mariners after upsetting the 3rd place UVic Vikes in the quarter-finals. SFU is currently undefeated against the Lakers in pre- and regular season action and will look to keep that streak alive.

The games on Sept. 9th and 10th will not be broadcasted, so follow us on Twitter @sfuhockey for live scores and updates.