Clan open exhibition slate with Captains Cup weekend double-header

Simon Fraser University will hit the ice this weekend to play their first games of hockey of the 2017/18 season for the inaugural Captain’s Cup, with matches against UBC and Trinity Western.

On Friday, SFU will travel to Point Grey to take on the Thunderbirds. Saturday evening, SFU will have home ice advantage at the Surrey Sport & Leisure Centre, playing against the Trinity Western Spartans.

It will be the first time for the public to see the 2017/18 SFU Clan, which added seven new players. Head Coach Mark Coletta was pleased with what he saw in training camp.

“Training camp went really well, we’ve got a lot of new faces. It was a good start,” he said. “The boys are anxious to get the season started again.”

The Captain’s Cup is a three-team tournament, sponsored by the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. Each team will play a game against each other, and the winner will take home the “President’s Trophy,” the 1940’s MVP trophy from Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey League.

Trinity Western will play UBC in the finale on Saturday, September 30th at the Point Grey campus, where the trophy will be presented.

Last season, SFU fell 3-1 to UBC in a competitive exhibition match before the season began. In regular season BCIHL play, SFU had a 4-1-1 record against Trinity Western.

The exhibition tournament gives the teams an opportunity to show the calibre of collegiate hockey in BC, as well as raise awareness for the WHL’s Scholarship Program, which is available for players entering into post-secondary hockey.

Between the three teams, 28 players have experience playing in the WHL — 22 players with UBC, four with Trinity Western and two with SFU.

“It’s always important to get out there, and attract new fans, be in new surroundings, and play quality hockey,” said Coletta.

During Saturday night’s game in Surrey, the Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association will receive all proceeds from the 50/50.

SFU is also working with local businesses, including the Honeybee Centre and Elements Casino, to provide giveaways during the game. After the game, players will be available to sign autographs for kids.