MSOC: Thunderbirds top coaches poll

Aug. 24, 2023 – Can anyone put a stop to the UBC Thunderbirds historic conference dynasty?

What will the Thompson Rivers WolfPack do for an encore after delivering the school’s first U SPORTS national championship?

These are among the key storylines surrounding the 2023 Canada West men’s soccer season, set to kick off this Friday.

UBC has once again topped the pre-season coaches poll and for good reason – they enter as five-time defending conference champions. The T-Birds went 9-3-3 in the regular season last year, before ultimately downing the Calgary Dinos in the CW final after a dramatic PK thriller.

Despite roster turnover, T-Birds head coach Mike Mosher believes his team has what it takes to keep the championship streak alive.

“We expect to have another strong season this year despite losing some key top players,” says Mosher, who enters his 28^th season at the helm of the T-Birds. “The key will be how the group gels and connects given several new guys coming in, several of whom I think can have a real impact immediately.”

WolfPack Look to Defend National Title

While UBC claimed conference supremacy again last season, it’s the Thompson Rivers WolfPack who will enter 2023 as defending national champions.

The WolfPack downed UBC in last year’s national final, capturing the school's first-ever U SPORTS title with a memorable victory in front of their raucous hometown fans. ​ ​

The U SPORTS championship was the first for a Canada West men's soccer side since the Alberta Golden Bears took the crown in 2016.

The WolfPack are expected to be among the strongest teams in the conference again this season, finishing fourth in the coaches poll.

Cougars, Golden Bears Hungry to Take Next Step

Looking east to the Prairie Division, both the Mount Royal Cougars and Alberta Golden Bears hope to build off semi-final appearances last season. The Cougars and Golden Bears placed second and third in this year’s coaches poll, respectively.

Both clubs are expected to be strong contenders for the CW trophy, with MRU receiving two first-place votes and Alberta garnering a single first-place nod.

MRU is coming off a memorable regular season that saw the side go an undefeated 8-0-6, conceding just seven goals in 14 games. The team will look to take the next step after a heartbreaking semifinal 2OT defeat to the cross-town rival Dinos.

Alberta is also coming off a strong campaign that saw the team finish second in the Prairie Division, before falling to UBC in the semis.

Opening weekend begins Friday through Sunday with a full slate of games across the conference. The regular season runs through Oct. 22, with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 28.

For the complete 2023 Canada West men’s soccer schedule, click here.

2023 CW MSOC PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL 

Team - Points (First-place votes)

MEN'S SOCCER ON CANADA WEST TV

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