Academic and athletic rivals SFU and UBC will face off on the ice this weekend in the annual University Hockey Classic.
The Clan will take on the Thunderbirds in a two-game mini-tourney with a game Friday night in Vancouver and Saturday night in Burnaby.
"Anytime UBC and SFU play, in any sport whether it's hockey, football or chess, I think it's something that this area has (become) accustomed to," said SFU head coach Mark Coletta. "It's a good thing for university sports in the Lower Mainland."
Fresh from the SAIT Eye Opener hockey tournament in Alberta - where they won one game and lost one game - the Clan men are looking to work out some kinks on the ice before they kick off their season in a few weeks, Coletta said.
"UBC and ourselves are just looking to feel out some of the new guys we've both brought in and see what they can prove on the ice," he said.
SFU rose to victory in the hockey classic's inaugural year, beating the Thunderbirds in a shootout. Last year their title was stolen as UBC beat the Clan in both games. This year Coletta is hoping the men can take down their Lower Mainland rivals.
"We took our lumps last year," he said. "It'll be a good two hockey games where the competition is definitely high, and the (urge to) compete is definitely high."
The first game gets underway at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The second game is at Burnaby's Bill Copeland Arena at 7 p.m. on Sept. 28.
For more information or ticket prices, visit www.sfuhockey.com.
