MHKY: Defending champion UBC tops coaches poll

Oct. 3, 2024 – For the first time in 53 years, the UBC Thunderbirds will enter a new season as defending conference champions.

They'll also enter as the favourites in 2024-25, topping the pre-season coaches poll. ​

The puck drops on a new Canada West men's hockey season this Friday night with plenty of storylines to follow. While the T-Birds enter as favourites with six first place votes, it promises to be a wide open race.

Alberta placed second in the poll with two first place votes, followed by third place Saskatchewan, who also received a first place nod. Calgary came in fourth, followed by Mount Royal in fifth.

Manitoba, MacEwan, Regina and Trinity Western rounded out the poll, respectively.

Special teams were a big factor in the Thunderbirds' success last year, as the team boasted the conference's top power play and penalty kill. Returning defensemen Jake Lee was instrumental to that success after being named a First Team Canada West All-Star and will be counted on to lead the T-Birds again this season.

Always a perennial contender, Alberta will need production from a talented incoming class with 10 first-year Bears on the roster.

“We have had an excellent recruiting class," says head coach Ian Herbers, who enters his 10th season as the Bears bench boss. "It will be exciting to see what this year's team can accomplish. The keys will be for us to mesh as a unit as quickly as possible and play a high level consistently over the short regular season schedule.”

The Golden Bears veteran core will be counted on for leadership, led by fourth-year captain Josh Prokop. The dynamic forward has tallied 66 points over the past two seasons, including a team-high 29 last year.

In Saskatoon, Huskies head coach Brandin Cote is excited to see his veterans take a step forward after a tough quarterfinal exit last spring. Veterans like Chantz Petruic, who was second in conference scoring last season, as well as defenceman Landon Kosior and goaltender Roddy Ross will be expected to lead the charge, bolstered by a group of highly touted recruits including Trevor Wong. ​

After making another trip to U SPORTS nationals last season, count on Calgary to be right back in title contention. They'll look to fourth year forward Colson Gengenbach to pace their offensive attack after a breakout season that saw him double his goal output from the previous year.

Across the city, Connor Bouchard and the Mount Royal Cougars also enter with high expectations. Bouchard is coming off a magical campaign where he proved himself as the best player in the country, being named U SPORTS Player of the Year after leading the nation in scoring.

While they finished seventh in the coaches poll, an emerging MacEwan side will look to build off the program's first Canada West playoff appearance. Griffins captain Sean Comrie will be expected to log major minutes against the opposition's best players, as the former University of Denver and Kelowna Rockets rearguard will look to finish off his final university season by leading the Griffins back to the playoffs.

The regular season runs through Feb. 15, with the best of three Canada West Final scheduled to begin March 7.

Fans can catch all the action on CanadaWest.TV, which now allows fans to watch games on popular Connected TV apps like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku. Regular season sport passes are available for $39.99.

U SPORTS nationals will be hosted by the University of Ottawa Gee Gees from March 20-23, 2025.

For the complete Canada West men’s hockey schedule, click here.

To view CW men's hockey history and records, click here.

2024-25 CW MHKY PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL 

Team - Points (First-place votes)

UBC Thunderbirds

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #1

From the coach: “CW will be very interesting this year due to the new divisional format.” - Head Coach Sven Butenschön

Key Performer: Jake Lee
​Defence
​3rd Year
​Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alta.

Leading the Thunderbirds in assists and points in 2023-24, Lee was named a First Team Canada West All-Star and a Second Team All-Canadian for his efforts in helping UBC secure their first conference championship title in 53 years.

Returning for his third season with the blue and gold, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native closed out last year's regular season on a seven-game point streak. A force at both ends of the ice, Lee was a major reason why UBC boasted the conference's top power play and penalty kill while also finishing atop the regular season standings with just four regulation losses.

Alberta Golden Bears

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #2

From the coach: “We have had an excellent recruiting class. It will be exciting to see what this years team can accomplish. The keys will be for us to mesh as a unit as quickly as possible and play a high level consistently over the short regular season schedule. We will need to stick to our process. Every point is crucial, especially with the new league format.” - Head Coach Ian Herbers

Key Performer: Josh Prokop
​Forward
​4th Year
​Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.

With 10 first-year Bears on the team this season, Alberta will need both production and leadership from their veteran core. Top among the returners is fourth-year captain Josh Prokop. The dynamic forward has tallied 66 points over the past two seasons, including a team-high 29 last year. Prokop will attempt to elevate a Bears offence that ranked 5th in Canada West last year.

Saskatchewan Huskies

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #3

From the coach: “The Huskies return with a strong lineup of veterans, including Chantz Petruic, a fourth-year forward and Canada West's second overall leading scorer, second-year defenceman Landon Kosior, and fourth-year goaltender Roddy Ross. With the addition of another impressive recruiting class, highlighted by top offensive recruit Trevor Wong, the Huskies are poised to have another successful season coming off a solid 20-win season in 2023-24, and are prepared to contend in the highly competitive Canada West Conference. Key factors for the Huskies' success this season will be a deep, balanced scoring attack, a strong, mobile defensive corps and solid, experienced goaltending.” - Head Coach Brandin Cote

Key Performer: ​ Chantz Petruic
​Forward
​4th Year
​Hometown: Ogema, Sask.

A skilled forward with a fantastic ability to generate offence, Chantz Petruic will look to continue his impressive pay after finishing 2nd in the conference in scoring last season with 39 points. The Ogema, Saskatchewan product has improved each year he has returned to the Dogs, and with some exciting additions to the roster for the 2024-25 season, Petruic should have plenty of opportunities to continue that trend this year.

Calgary Dinos

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #4

From the coach: “We are excited about the upcoming season and looking forward to the challenge of competing to win the CW championship. As always there are some very good teams in our conference, which provides lots of competition and with the new scheduling format it got even more difficult. The key for our team will be continuing to be a strong two-way team and build our offence from being great defensively. We have experience in net as well on defence, and will work towards limiting chances against and getting the puck into our forwards hands as quickly as possible.” - Head Coach Mark Howell

Key Performer: Colson Gengenbach
​Forward
​4th Year
​Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.

It was a breakout season for Gengenbach last year. The Edmonton product doubled his goal output from the previous season and finished the regular season ranked second in all of Canada West in goals scored. Now entering his fourth season with the Dinos, Gengenbach will once again be leaned upon with expectations once again high for Calgary.

Mount Royal Cougars

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #5

From the coach: “We anticipate that this will be another competitive year in Canada West men's hockey where every single point will be important. We are returning a solid core of players from last season whose leadership will be key in the continued growth of our hockey program on and off the ice.” - Head Coach Bert Gilling

Key Performer: Connor Bouchard
​Forward
​3rd Year
​Hometown: Cochrane, Alta.

Last season Connor Bouchard proved he was the best player in the country. Bouchard led all of U SPORTS in scoring and was named the national U SPORTS Player of the Year and a U SPORTS First Team All-Star. He also racked up the conference accolades, being named Canada West's Most Outstanding Player and a First Team All-Star.

Bouchard was the first player in U SPORTS since 2000-01 to score 50 points and looks to do it again as the Cougars hunt for their first Canada West Championship.

Manitoba Bisons

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #6

From the coach: “The Bisons look to improve on last year’s finish with a strong recruiting class and a young team. The key to the Bisons success this season will depend on how quickly the young team can adapt to the league.” - Head Coach Gordon Burnett

Key Performer: Jonny Hooker
​Forward
​3rd Year
​Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.

Forward Jonny Hooker will don the 'C' again in 2024-25 for the Bisons, a year after earning the prestigious honour as a sophomore. The former captain for the Prince George Cougars had a career year last season, finishing seventh in the conference with 12 goals. His 11 assists and 23 total points also led Manitoba, while his seven power play goals tied for second in Canada West.

Hooker's 12 goals were the tenth-most by a Bison in a season since 2000-01. Look for the captain to be a factor in all aspects for the Herd again in 2024-25.

MacEwan Griffins

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #7

From the coach: “We will rely on defending hard and playing a structured game. Being hard to play against and having a consistent effort will be key.”- Head Coach Zack Dailey

Key Performer: Sean Comrie
​Defence
​5th Year
​Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.

MacEwan's captain logs major minutes against the opposition's best players and plays in all situations for the Griffins. He's a complete defenceman, equally adept at defending and creating, playing a major role on both power play and penalty-killing units.

The former University of Denver and Kelowna Rockets rearguard will look to finish off his final university season by leading the Griffins back to the playoffs.

Regina Cougars

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #8

From the coach: “With the addition of 10 new players the University of Regina is excited for this upcoming year.” - Head Coach Todd Johnson

Key Performer: Eric Pearce
​Forward
​3rd Year
​Hometown: Regina, Sask.

After scoring seven points in his first U SPORTS season, Eric Pearce exploded for 20 points last year with the Cougars and will again be looked at as one of the team's top offensive threats.

Pearce scored six goals and added a team-leading 14 assists last season, showing off the offensive touch that he displayed in the WHL bubble for Prince Albert and during his 20-year-old season with Estevan.

Trinity Western Spartans

2024-25 Coaches Poll Rank: #9

From the coach: "I’m excited about our team this year. This group has a lot of experience, and many of our players have been through a lot together. We have a veteran leadership group and a great infusion of young, energetic players to pair with them. We have great goaltending, a solid D-core, and some forwards who I expect will take a big step offensively for us. There is a lot to be positive about with this group.” - Head Coach Ben Walter

Key Performer: Leon Sommer
​Goaltender
​2nd Year
​Hometown: Linz, Austria

Leon came in and established himself right away as a top goaltender in the conference. His calm, confident demeanour rubs off on his teammates and he has become a real leader within the Spartans group. Last season, Sommer made a conference leading 643 saves, also ranking ninth in save percentage (.899) and 13th in GAA (4.13).