SFU hockey club host rival UBC Thunderbirds to kick off 2024–25 season

The SFU hockey club is ready to prove themselves against some of the best competition in Canada and the U.S.  

“Our group is really hungry,” says team captain James Darby, a third-year student, who came to play at SFU two years ago following a season with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.

“Our mindset is not: let’s go have a good time and see how we do – it’s: let’s go win games and represent SFU.”

The team opens their 2024–25 season Friday at home against the UBC Thunderbirds at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, kicking off another season for a club program that continues to grow and shine, on and off the ice.  

SFU Hockey, which started as a grassroots club team more than two decades ago, has grown from its humble club roots to a polished and competitive team. The club team is well-funded through sponsorships and private donations and enjoys support from the City of Burnaby and the community. 

Head coach Mark Coletta joined the team in 2008 and has witnessed its evolution, beginning around 2012–13 when the team began heavily recruiting Junior A players and competing outside of the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) through exhibition matches against USport and NCAA competition. Last season, for example, they played exhibition matches against the top teams in the NCAA, including No. 1 ranked Boston College, Boston University, University of Michigan, and Providence College.

This season is no exception. Friday’s home opener against UBC is followed next weekend (Sept. 20, 21) with a pair of home games against the Trinity Western University Spartans and an away game (Sept. 28th) against UBC.  

“I think it goes without saying that there is a UBC-SFU rivalry for any sport,” says Coletta. “The fact that they are only a couple miles apart, there’s always something about an SFU and UBC game that gets the competitive juices flowing.” 

The teams only played each other once last season, with UBC winning 5-3. The UBC squad lost in the quarterfinals of last year’s national University Cup tournament.

In October, the team hits the road, with exhibition games against NCAA Division I programs, including the Long Island University Sharks and Sacred Heart University Pioneers. SFU will take part in the U.S. National Team Development Program Showcase with games against Bowling Green State University Falcons, Robert Morris University Colonials and Lake Superior State University Lakers. In November, the Maryville University of St. Louis Saints (NCAA Division II) travel to Burnaby for a pair of games at Bill Copeland Arena.

“I think the schedule is definitely deeper,” Coletta says. “We have a bunch of home games compared to last year. We have an NCAA school in Maryville coming out, so that will be good. … The travel schedule against some good competition is going to be something that we're going to be excited to embark on.” 

Darby, who is majoring in communication and hoping to minor in business, says he has been impressed by the assembled team through training camp – all are former Junior A or NCAA players.  

“I’m a North Van boy,” says Darby, who played Junior A hockey for the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Surrey Eagles of the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL). “I’m close to home, playing great hockey, living in Vancouver, and getting a good degree. It’s an easy sell for a B.C. boy to come play here.”