FB: 2023 season kicks off across Canada West on September 1st
Conference announces 2023 football schedule
CALGARY– The quest for the 86th Hardy Cup is only mere months away. On April 25th, the conference announced its schedule for the 2023 Canada West football season, which is set to kick off September 1st.
Canada West fans will be treated to a season-opening triple header. The University of Calgary Dinos playing host to the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the battle for Alberta, while the defending Hardy Cup Champions University of Saskatchewan Huskies begin their title defence in Winnipeg versus the University of Manitoba Bisons. The UBC Thunderbirds and University of Regina Rams face off in Regina to round out opening weekend.
The nine-week regular season sees all teams play each other at least once, with three repeat match-ups and one bye week. The schedule ends the same way it started, with each of the above-mentioned away teams drawing hosting duties this time around.
When the regular season is all said and done, the top four teams will earn spots in the CW semifinals on November 4th, before this date you can now circle in your calendar: the 86th Hardy Cup on November 11, 2023.
KEY DATES
- Friday, September 1: Opening night of the 2023 CW football season
- Saturday, October 7: Conference-wide bye week
- November 4: Hardy Cup Semifinals*
- *Dates determined by host field availability
- November 11: CW champion crowned at the 86th Hardy Cup*
- *Dates determined by host field availability
Due to the variability of hosting protocols at shared stadiums, exact dates for the 86th Hardy Cup and the Hardy Cup semifinals will be confirmed once hosting duties have been earned. As always, those will be given to the highest seeds in the semifinal and final match-ups.
Fans looking to watch gridiron action on Canada West TV – the only home for all CW football games – will be able to buy passes beginning in August when 2023-24 packages go on sale to the public.
2023 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
REGULAR SEASON
WEEK 1
Friday, Sept. 1: ALB @ CGY / 5:30 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium
Friday, Sept. 1: SSK @ MAN / 7:00 p.m. CDT / IG Field
Friday, Sept. 1: UBC @ REG / 7:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium
WEEK 2
Friday, Sept. 8: REG @ SSK / 7:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Friday, Sept. 8: MAN @ ALB / 7:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Saturday, Sept. 9: CGY@ UBC / 1:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
WEEK 3
Friday, Sept. 15: ALB @ SSK / 7:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Saturday, Sept. 16: MAN @ UBC / 1:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 16: CGY @ REG / 2:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium
WEEK 4
Friday, Sept. 22: SSK @ CGY/ 6:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium
Friday, Sept. 22: ALB @ UBC / 6:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 23: REG @ MAN / 2:00 p.m. CDT / IG Field
WEEK 5
Friday, Sept. 29: UBC @ SSK / 7:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
Friday, Sept. 29: REG @ ALB / 7:00 p.m. MST / Foote Field
Sunday, Oct. 1: CGY@ MAN / 2:00 p.m. CDT / IG Field
WEEK 6 – BYE WEEK
WEEK 7
Saturday, Oct. 14: SSK@ ALB / 1:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Saturday, Oct. 14: MAN @ REG / 2:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Field
Saturday, Oct. 14: UBC @ CGY / 2:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium
WEEK 8
Friday, Oct. 20: ALB @ MAN / 7:00 p.m. CDT / IG Field
Saturday, Oct. 21: REG @ UBC / 1:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 21: CGY @ SSK / 4:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
WEEK 9
Saturday, Oct. 28: SSK @ REG / 1:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 28: UBC @ ALB / 1:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Saturday, Oct. 28: MAN @ CGY / 2:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon
PLAYOFFS
HARDY CUP SEMIFINALS
Saturday, Nov. 4: No. 4 @ No. 1 / No. 3 @ No. 2
86TH HARDY CUP
Saturday, Nov. 11: semifinal winners @ highest remaining seed