(Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics) (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

Mike and Trivel: UBC’s dynamic duo of O’Connor and Pinto forge pure magic as ‘Birds top Alberta to secure playoff berth

VANCOUVER — Over the four seasons in which they have turned home games on the Point Grey campus into appointment viewing, the UBC Thunderbirds football team’s national success has introduced a wave of star players to the growing fan base of the blue-and-gold.

As part of a night in which he pieced together 267 all-purpose yards, UBC's Trivel Pinto vaults over Saskatchewan kicker Sean Stenger. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC football’s amazing rise: Win over Huskies sees ‘Birds vault from last place to second place in just one game

VANCOUVER — Excuse the UBC Thunderbirds for feeling a little on the light-headed side as they get out of bed Saturday morning and ponder their place in the Canada West football world.

After a rather anonymous start to his post-secondary soccer career, North Vancouver's Kristian Yli-Hietanen (left) has risen to the upper reaches of the Canada West's goal-scoring class as a fourth-year striker with the UBC Thunderbirds.
The evolving front-court chemistry between second-year Grant Shephard (left) and freshman international Jonah Morrison will be one of the most curious plot lines to follow as the Thunderbirds open their 2018-19 season at home Friday with the opening game of UBC Invitational at War Gym. (Grant Shephard photo by Richard Lam/UBC athletics; Jonah Morrison photo property of FIBA Basketball)
Feature University Men's Basketball

As UBC men’s basketball hosts Laval to open new season, ‘Birds new pairing of Shephard & Morrison is one to watch

VANCOUVER — Mason Bourcier plus incoming star transfers Jadon Cohee and Manroop Clair has all the makings of as vintage a UBC Thunderbirds back court as you could imagine.

The formerly-winless Alberta Golden Bears managed to hold off the UBC Thunderbirds Friday in Edmonton as the 'Birds dropped into last place in the Canada West. (Photo property of Cara Creatives supplied by University of Alberta athletics)
Feature University Football

The mystery of UBC football: Following Friday’s loss at Alberta, where has the Thunderbirds’ magic gone?

As quickly as a sweater can unravel, so too, it seems, can a national championship-contending football team’s much-hyped Canada West campaign.

UBC's Trivel Pinto was more than ready to shoulder a heavy loud, carrying a Calgary Dinos' defender across the goal line Saturday at the stadium as part of a 43-yard touchdown catch. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC football: In its darkest hours yet, on the tails of another defeat to Dinos, veteran ‘Birds say team’s resolve won’t be wasted

VANCOUVER — Michael O’Connor was standing along the Thunderbird Stadium sidelines on a post-game Saturday night, far from the emptying grandstand which just moments earlier had some 9,534 fans on the edge of their seats.

The most productive receiver in all of B.C. high school football, Handsworth's Keelan White said Saturday that he's headed to play for the UBC Thunderbirds next season. (Photo by Blair Shier property of www.Blair.photo)
Feature High School Football University Football

A grand entrance to the blue-and gold! Handsworth star Keelan White picks UBC Thunderbirds at halftime of Homecoming Saturday

VANCOUVER — One of B.C.’s most explosive high school football talents announced Saturday that he is ready to make the green, green grass of Thunderbird Stadium his football home for up to the next five seasons.Handsworth Royals’ wide receiver Keelan White announced at halftime of the UBC Thunderbirds’ annual Homecoming Game against the arch-rival Calgary […]

For so much of the second-half, the UBC Thunderbirds and Regina Rams battled in the trenches. But over the final three minutes, there were enough big plays for an entire game. (Photo courtesy Piper Sports Photography)
Feature University Football

UBC’s game-ending, 30-yard penalty gives Regina a chip-shot field goal victory as ‘Birds endure another walk-off loss

It’s too bad the football gods won’t implement a quota for the number of walk-off losses a Canada West football team must be forced to endure over a pre-determined span of time, because with any kind of reasonable number, the UBC Thunderbirds wouldn’t have to worry about getting their hearts ripped out for quite a […]

The last goal of Poonam Sandhu's UBC playing career won her team the 2014 U Sports national title. Her first shot as the program's head coach comes Saturday at home to Victoria. (Photo by Richard Lam property of UBC athletics)
Feature High School Field Hockey University Field Hockey

Poonam Sandhu: For UBC’s decorated field hockey vet and new head coach, nothing trumps Thunderbird tradition

VANCOUVER — Poonam Sandhu fashioned one of the most steeped national championship resumes in UBC sports history during her playing career in the midfield of the Thunderbirds’ women’s field hockey team.

There is no question what kind of an impact UBC's Marcus Davis could have this Friday in Regina in a potential return from last season's ACL injury. Here, Davis is shown grinding out some hard yards against those very Rams. (Photo by Glen McMurchy, Regina athletics)
Feature University Football

UBC at Regina: Injured ‘Birds vets Cummings, Pinto, Griffiths, Davis could all return Friday, but so too must blue-and-gold heartbeat

VANCOUVER — Want to know the location of the quietest place in Vancouver this past Sunday morning? Try the UBC Thunderbirds’ football film room.