Despite the win, head coach Blake Nill felt that the team still has room for improvement in the games ahead. “We’ve got to be more consistent offensively, finishing when we’re in the end zone. That’s something that’s plagued us for a season now."
UBC starting quarterback O’Connor — who averaged 324.8 passing yards per game last year — racked up an uncharacteristic 155 yards during the game. The ’Birds also had 23 penalties for a total loss of 210 yards.
This year, the ’Birds will be seeing the return of prominent players like Michael O’Connor and Marcus Davis. Joining them will be a squad of new recruits to bolster the existing talent on all areas of the field.
“It’s still early days and this group has got a lot of work [to do],” said head coach Mike Mosher. “We feel as we grow as a team, we will start to score more goals, so it’s nice to have fun that first weekend with a couple of clean sheets.”
“What we want to be spearheading … is trying to set up a collegiate league for triathlon in western Canada or potentially here [on] the west coast, even including some of the US schools,” said Heinkel.
“All these things [Passaglia] is doing behind this campaign to jumpstart it and getting people aware is the most important thing because the more lives you can save, the better,” said Katsantonis. “It’s helped me become more aware.”
Moving forward, there may be even more in store for Yee than just a professional career in the KHL. As a player of partial Chinese descent, he also has an opportunity to represent the Chinese National Team in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Mosher was impressed with his team’s performance and saw the tournament as a chance to prepare for the upcoming season. “[The WEUFT] allowed us to really grow on the field... It’s the equivalent to a really good preseason exercise."
For Mosher — who has been head coach since 1996 — the 2018 championship will be the first time his team hosts the nationals in over a decade. UBC last hosted the national championship back in 2007, where the ’Birds won CIS gold.
“That’s pretty remarkable,” said Primeau of the 'Birds small championship roster. “Generally speaking, the teams that are in the top four have significantly bigger rosters representing them at the NAIA championships.”
“Professor Ono’s been really supportive of it and it’s great to have a president that’s willing to help start these talks,” said McKaig. “Then it’s up to us with the schools to see if we can make it work.”
Bourcier, a Team BC and U17 national team player, was a standout point guard for his high school team: the Kelowna Owls. His signing comes amidst various offers from NCAA Division I teams. Still, he chose UBC because of its success last season.
On March 25, the rowing teams captured three of the four wins at the 25th Brown Cup against their archrivals — the University of Victoria Vikes. Both reserve teams, along with the varsity women’s team, came out on top while the men’s varsity tea
The first game was a replacement for a cancelled game from February 26. Tyler Yorko, Austen Butler, John Whaley, Kyle McComb, Brenda Rose and Anthony Olson each had a run. Connor Noble pitched the entire game, allowing five hits.
The first game on Friday ended in a 7-0 shutout, where Nick Spillman, Griffy Goyer, Anthony Olson, John Whaley, Tyler Yorko, Mitch Robinson and Kyle McComb each recorded one run. Pitchers Connor Noble and Aidan Goodall combined for nine strikeouts fr