UBC rookie quarterback Tommy Yanchuk scrambles from the pressure on Saturday at Thunderbird Stadium. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Nightmare at Thunderbird Stadium: Regina’s Magic Man QB Donnelly holds UBC under his spell in Rams’ 46-16 win

VANCOUVER — Two young teams came into Saturday’s Canada West opener at Thunderbird Stadium looking to discover new identities, but only one was able to leave with the answer and it likely enjoyed a raucous flight back to the prairies.The Regina Rams looked like anything but the team picked to finish last in the preseason […]

Simon Fraser freshman running back Solomon Hines (right) makes a pair of defenders miss badly as part of a 45-yard touchdown run Saturday during the Clan's training camp-ending fall scrimmage at Terry Fox Field. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Clan have a ‘eureka’ moment, strike gold at running back as speed merchant Solomon Hines joins friend Mason Glover in SFU backfield

BURNABY — Back in the spring, the Simon Fraser Clan were a team in search of a starting running back.On Saturday, as the team wrapped up its fall camp atop Burnaby Mountain with an energy-filled scrimmage on Terry Fox Field, all questions had seemingly been answered.Not only has the transformation of sophomore Mason Glover (5-9, […]

Surrey-Kwantlen Park grad Taylor Nekic, entering her third season as a starting central defender, has helped lift the fortunes of Abbotsford's ever-improving Fraser Valley Cascades. (Photo by Dan Kinvig property of University of the Fraser Valley athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Soccer

First signs of a second wind? UFV’s gifted youthful core embraces opportunity as Cascades women’s soccer takes a hopeful forward step

ABBOTSFORD — You can’t really define a second wind, except to say that although invisible to the naked eye, it brings a presence which is undeniably uplifting.In a big-picture sense, that’s kind of how Rob Giesbrecht has felt throughout the course of the most demanding and perhaps most rewarding preseason in the history of Fraser […]

Tommy Yanchuk, the former Edmonton Huskies pivot, has been named UBC's starting quarterback ahead of the Thunderbirds' season-opening conference clash Saturday night at home against the Regina Rams. (Photo by Gord Mellor property of Gord Mellor Photography 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

UBC names its new starting quarterback: Big-armed Tommy Yanchuk gets the nod as ‘Birds open season Saturday at home to Regina

VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds have settled their training camp battle at quarterback.Tommy Yanchuk, a 20-year-old who last season played with the Canadian Junior Football League’s Edmonton Huskies, will command the offence Saturday (7 p.m., Canada West TV) when the ‘Birds open the post-Michael O’Connor era by hosting the Regina Rams at Thunderbird Stadium in […]

SFU starting quarterback Justin Seiber says his comfort level in standing in to deliver down field is enhanced this season by the team's exciting blend of veterans and rookies along its offensive line. (Photo by Paul Yates property of Simon Fraser Clan athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Leave it to Seiber? SFU’s super-soph quarterback summered atop Burnaby Mountain, now he’s ready to make starving fan base true Seiber Believers

BURNABY — The newspaper headline said it all: Leave It To Seiber.That was back in early October of 2017, Justin Seiber’s senior year at Kentwood High, located about a half hour’s drive southeast of Seattle.In a wild and crazy North Puget Sound 4A clash, quarterback Seiber went 35-of-48 for 526 yards and four touchdowns as […]

UBC Thunderbirds players mob teammate Victory Shumbusho (9) after his second-half goal proved to be the winner in a 2-0 triumph over the host UFV Cascades on Friday in Abbotsford. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Soccer

UBC soccer coach Mike Mosher opens season No. 24 at the helm liking what he sees in 2-0 win over Fraser Valley Cascades

ABBOTSFORD — Point out to the seasoned general that he’s just opened up his 24th season of Canada West coaching with the UBC Thunderbirds, and Mike Mosher smiles before admitting that after a near-quarter century at the helm, you learn to trust your eyes.And what Mosher saw Friday from his team during a conference-opening 2-0 win […]

UBC's Ben Hladik (left) coming off an All-Canadian season with the Thunderbirds will be joined by standout Regina transfer Nick Cross within the team's highly-touted linebacking core. (Photos by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2019 and Piper Sports Photography 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

Linebacker U? Heart of UBC’s defence could become its new identity as Hladik, Cross form dynamic tackling duo in the middle

VANCOUVER — A new chapter in UBC Thunderbirds football history?You can author some variation of that narrative with the dawning of each new Canada West season, yet as the Aug. 31 opener at home to the Regina Rams looms ever closer, there is a legitimate feeling that 2019’s true story remains as unwritten and mysterious […]

Simon Fraser freshman kicker Kristie Elliott has enjoyed an historical fall camp with the NCAA Div. 2 Clan football team. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

“Do you believe in Kristie Elliott?” From out of nowhere, SFU’s new kicker has become the Clan’s first female football player

BURNABY — The second day of fall football camp was coming to an end last Thursday on Simon Fraser University’s Terry Fox Field when Clan head coach Thomas Ford posed an inspiring question to his team.“Do you believe in Kristie Elliott?” the effusive Ford asked his charges, all of whom were staring at the possibility […]

For a mythical mug, The Howie is still pretty heavy. (Graphic property of Dan Murphy 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School University

The Howies: Our mythical, season-ending awards celebrate the author’s Top 25 moments of the 2018-19 season

LANGLEY — The idea to hand out a mythical set of season-ending awards called The Howies was first hatched in this corner way back in the winter of 2005.Back then, during my days at The Province, it was my way of honouring the top men’s and women’s university basketball talent playing at B.C.’s then-CIS schools.The […]

Killarney racewalker Daniel Soliven takes his purposeful stride to the UBC Thunderbirds track and field program next season. (Photo by Wilson Wong property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School University

THE COMPLETE LIST: Varsity Letters’ B.C. Recruits List 2019! Where 1,039 athletes in 19 sports are headed this coming season

LANGLEY — We know there are still many more names and post-secondary destinations going unanswered once again, yet in our never-ending quest to bring you the most complete list of post secondary-bound B.C. high school student-athletes, we’re happy to report that the annual B.C. Recruits List has reached a milestone.