Fraser Valley Cascades (left to right) Jordyn Sekhon, Ahmad Athman and Kyle Claggett share the connections between their jersey numbers and lives spent both learning their sport and celebrating that experience with family. (Photos by Gibi Saini property of UFV Athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

On the eve of its 2021-22 hoops re-start season, trio of UFV Cascades reveal jersey number origin stories and their direct connection to basketball and family!

ABBOTSFORD — On a team of athletes, there is nothing more utilitarian than the number assigned to each player’s jersey.It’s a stamp of identification for purposes of record, whether for points scored, penalties taken or in most instances, the simple act of participation.Yet ask the athletes themselves about their true sum value, and quite suddenly […]

UBC guard Grant Audu has paid his dues and honed his game and enters the 2021-22 season as a true team leader. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC men’s hoops 2021-22: A new season tips off Thursday with game-ready additions as defending Canada West champ ‘Birds ready for small-ball or tall-ball!

VANCOUVER — They are not exactly a team shrouded in mystery, yet on the night of the final sleep before opening the 2021-22 Canada West men’s basketball season, it’s impossible to have a genuine handle on just what kind of team the UBC Thunderbirds are going to be.And you can take that right down to […]

Hailey Counsell's third season of play with the UBC Thunderbirds will sees her ascend to the biggest role of her U SPORTS career as one of the team's acknowledged veteran players. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Basketball

UBC women’s hoops 2021-22: War Gym a land of opportunity as youthful, untested ‘Birds open post-Huband era Thursday vs. TWU Spartans!

VANCOUVER — Its veterans are staring opportunity square in the face, and its rookies are going to get a chance to show early all it is that they are capable of becoming,It’s not the simplest of tasks to quantify just how different the first UBC Thunderbirds women’s basketball team of the post-Deb Huband era will […]

After being forced to medically retire following a spate of injuries over the first two years of her NCAA Div. 1 career at Arizona State, Salmon Arm's own Glynis Sim has found her perfect athletic and academic fit with the UBC Thunderbirds. (Vid Wadhwani photo property of Vid Wadhwani 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Cross Country

UBC’s Glynis Sim: After injuries forced her into medical retirement almost four years ago, ex-Salmon Arm harrier back on track at Canada West XC championships Saturday!

VANCOUVER — There were times when Glynis Sim didn’t want to look over her shoulder for fear that she may well have left her competitive running career too far behind in the rearview mirror.After all, when you cut bait and walk away from a promising career in the manner she was forced to almost four […]

Simon Fraser's Robert Meadors hauled in a 13-yard catch to account for his team's only touchdown Saturday in a 51-10 loss in Texas to the Lone Star Conference's Angelo State Rams. (Photo by Garrett James property of Simon Fraser athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

As Simon Fraser feels heat from Texas toughie Angelo State, coach Rigell says Lone Star Conference “…is the SEC of Div. 2 football”

If going on the road to play the traditional powers of the Texas-based Lone Star Conference represents the most challenging Div. 2 portion of Simon Fraser’s annual football schedule, then the locals faced one of the toughest teams on their 2021 schedule Saturday.Playing at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Tex., SFU (1-5, 0-2) was […]

UBC receiver Trey Kellogg, carpeted at the edge of the goal line by Manitoba defensive halfback Jarrett Alcaraz, extends to break the plane and score one of his three touchdowns Saturday at the stadium. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

More drama, more lessons learned, more proof, following 26-24 upset of No. 4 Manitoba, that UBC Thunderbirds football is once again a program on the rise!

VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds looked so good off the opening kick-off Saturday at home to the Manitoba Bisons that it appeared like the young team’s continued resurgence was going to be high-pointed with a blow-out victory.Alas, along the way to what was nonetheless a milestone 26-24 win over the No. 4 nationally-ranked Bisons (3-1), […]

Fraser Valley point guard Maddy Gobeil and the rest of Abbotsford's Cascades learned a lot about their potential and process with a series of three preseason games against some of the best competition in Canada. (Photo by Dan Kinvig property of University of the Fraser Valley athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Basketball

UFV Women’s Basketball 2021-22: Emerging Cascades keep bar set high following a revelatory three-game test against nation’s best teams!

ABBOTSFORD — Even in the best of times  it’s a difficult proposition to put together a preseason schedule and know precisely the level of competition you’re going to be facing.Factor in the uncertainties of COVID as well as the returning status of any number of opposition veterans forced to keep one eye on their academic […]

Already the leader in U SPORTS passing three weeks into his rookie campaign, the canvas is still blank and filled with potential for UBC Thunderbirds' quarterback Garrett Rooker. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Football

UBC-Mantoba Football Notebook 10.21.21 edition: The skinny on rookie QB Rooker, the return of Gavin Cobb, ‘Birds rising WR Robert Lutman & much more!

VANCOUVER — Fans of UBC Thunderbirds football have delighted in the potentially season-changing fourth-quarter of last Saturday’s rally from 23-0 down to beat the Regina Rams on the road 31-30 in overtime and move to 1-2 on the season.Yet this week’s Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) visitor to Thunderbird Stadium, the No. 4-ranked Manitoba Bisons, showed […]

Olivia Willett has helped elevate the Simon Fraser women's cross-country team to the No. 1-ranking in the West Region heading into Saturday's GNAC championship races at St. Martin's University in Lacey Washington. (Photo property of WWU athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Cross Country

As Simon Fraser cross-country hits the post-season trail in full stride at GNACs championships, forecast calls for mud with a chance of gold!

BURNABY — When the Simon Fraser’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams take to the trails Saturday morning for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship races at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Wash., one thing will be abundantly clear.Despite the atmospheric forecasts calling for rain, rain and more rain, an historic opportunity exists along the way […]

Simon Fraser's Jessica Jones has endured to enter her sixth season atop Burnaby Mountain. On Tuesday, SFU's senior guard was voted the GNAC's Preseason Player of the Year by the conference's coaches. (Photo property of SFU athletics 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Women's Basketball

The rise of SFU’s Basketball Jones: Jessica Jones doubted her game early, but with perseverance Simon Fraser’s senior guard named 2021-22 GNAC Preseason Player of the Year!

BURNABY — Tuesday was a day for Jessica Jones to understand, with a veteran’s perspective, the meaning of perseverance in the face of adversity.After discovering that she had been named the GNAC’s women’s basketball 2021-22 Preseason Player of the Year, Simon Fraser’s energetic, shot-making senior guard put it all into words as best she could.“It’s […]