FB: Defending champions top preseason poll
Defending Hardy Cup and Vanier Cup champion Calgary Dinos tabbed as conference favourites
VANCOUVER - The Calgary Dinos, reigning Hardy Cup and Vanier Cup champions, look to be the team to beat once again, as the annual preseason coaches poll was unveiled Thursday.
The Dinos narrowly edged the Saskatchewan Huskies for top spot in the poll as both programs finished with 23 points, with Calgary earning three first place votes to Saskatchewan's two. The two programs have met in the last two editions of the Hardy Cup with each side claiming a victory.
The Dinos finished first in the conference in 2019 with a 6-2 record. Wins over the Manitoba Bisons and Saskatchewan earned the program its 18th Hardy Cup. Calgary went on to knock off McMaster in the Mitchell Bowl before a 27-13 win over Montreal to win their fifth Vanier Cup.
Saskatchewan comes into the season as the favourite to dethrone the reigning champions, as they did in 2018. The Huskies finished second in the 2019 standings with a 5-3 record.
PREVIEW: Click here for a team-by-team look at all six CW football teams
After missing out on the post-season in 2019, the Regina Rams look poised for a rebound in 2021, slotting in third with 15 points in the poll. The Bisons, who finished 2019 with a 4-4 record and nearly upset the Dinos in the Hardy Cup semifinal, were ranked fourth by the coaches, with 14 points.
Rounding out the poll were the Alberta Golden Bears (9 points) in fifth and the UBC Thunderbirds (6 points) in sixth.
Canada West football makes its long awaited return to the field on Saturday with all six teams in action to open the 2021 season.
The Rams visit the Bisons on the Canada West Football Showcase at 2 p.m. CDT. It's a CW Football Showcase double-header with the Dinos hosting the Huskies, in a rematch of the past two Hardy Cups, at 4 p.m. MDT. Both games are available on SaskTel and TELUS.
The Golden Bears host the Thunderbirds at Edmonton's Foote Field at 1 p.m. MDT exclusively on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
2021 CW FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Calgary Dinos - 23 (3)
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 23 (2)
- Regina Rams - 15
- Manitoba Bisons - 14
- Alberta Golden Bears - 9
- UBC Thunderbirds - 6
NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-5. First-place votes worth 5 pts., second-place worth 4 pts. etc.