By Bryan Scott

SFU prepares to take on UBC in University Hockey Challenge 2012

The Simon Fraser University Men’s Ice Hockey Team is gearing up for another successful season. After a 17–2–5 record in the 2011–2012 season, the Clan failed to win their third straight BCIHL championship when they fell 4–3 in overtime of the championship game to the University of Victoria.  They will be looking for revenge as the season approaches.  As a final tune-up for the season, the Clan will participate in the 2nd annual University Hockey Classic on Sept. 21–22.

Last year, almost 1,600 fans showed up to Bill Copeland Arena to watch the inaugural University Hockey Classic between SFU and their bitter rivals from UBC.  The event is a two-game series, a home game for each side. SFU prevailed, winning in a shootout. This was after both teams had won their respective home games.

Since they are in different leagues, UBC (CIS) and SFU (BCIHL) do not play in the regular season. “We want to promote the rivalry that has gone down in recent years,” said SFU’s head coach Mark Coletta,  “[the University Hockey Challenge] is a way to show that university and college hockey is here, and in the mix [with the other sports] to go and watch.” With the NHL negotiations at a standstill, this is a great way to get a hockey fix in these desperate times.

This year the first game will take place at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre at 7:00 p.m., on Sept. 21. And the second on Sept. 22 at 7:00 at Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Arena. With a year full of bragging rights on the line, expect these teams to battle tooth-and-nail until the last buzzer.