Changes: British Columbia Thunderbirds

Revision as of 16:38, 24 June 2019

Overview

"Thunderbirds" is the name of the sports teams of the University of British Columbia (UBC), which is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their home arena is the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, one of the venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics. They are members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) and U Sports, formerly known as Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).

History

UBC started play in the senior and intermediate levels of the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association. In fact, they won the 1921 Savage Cup for the provincial senior title.

UBC did not play top tier university hockey until they joined the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) in 1961-62. In 1962-63 the conference was re-named the Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WCIAA, or WIAA). When the WCIAA split in two following the 1971-72 season, the University of British Columbia became a founding member of the CWUAA, along with the University of Saskatchewan, University of Victoria, University of Calgary, and University of Alberta. Victoria has since departed and a GPAC merger and new programs have added new CWUAA opponents at the University of Manitoba, the University of Regina, University of Lethbridge, and Mount Royal University.

In addition, from 1950 to 1968, the Alberta Golden Bears and UBC Thunderbirds played an annual series for the Hamber Trophy. The two teams were in the same conference for five of those seasons.

UBC also represented British Columbia in the 1967 Canada Winter Games. They received a silver medal after losing the championship game to the Alberta Golden Bears, 4-1.

Senior Seasons

As with the other major western universities, UBC competed in local senior competition in their pre-university days. They competed in the Vancouver City Senior League (VCSL) in at least 1920-21. Results from BC hockey in the early days are sketchy. Here are the results available:

1920-21 VCSL:

After finishing in 3rd place in the 4 team league UBC caught fire in the playoffs, winning sudden-death quarter-final and semi-final games before defeating the renowned Vancouver Towers 6-5 on aggregate to take the title. There are no other listings for UBC competing in the VCSL in any other season, though records are missing for several seasons. See: List of VCSL Seasons

1920-21 British Columbia Senior Playoffs:

After losing the opener to the Victoria Senators 3-2, UBC took game 2 by a 5-3 score. This gave UBC the series 7-6 on aggregate and the provincial title. Unfortunately for them, they won the title too late to challenge for the Allan Cup. Alberta had the same problem, and Saskatchewan's league was under suspension. That left the Intercollegiate winner (who for 3 seasons in the early 20s was granted a berth), the University of Saskatchewan, and the Manitoba and Thunder Bay champions (Brandon and Port Arthur) to compete for the 1920-21 Western Canada Allan Cup Playoffs. So had UBC competed they likely would have faced the University of Saskatchewan in a playoff series for the first time. Also, the University of Alberta came very close to winning the 1920-21 Alberta Senior Playoffs. They won the Edmonton league and then lost the final to Calgary.

1921-22 British Columbia Intermediate Playoffs:

Unfortunately, this is the only season for which annual standings are available for the Vancouver Intermediate League. UBC placed second and lost the semi-final to the Vancouver Nationals.

1945-46 British Columbia Intermediate Playoffs:

UBC played in and won the New Westminster Industrial League. Then, in the provincial playoffs,UBC lost a semi-final series to New Westminster 2 games to 1.

More information:

University Seasons

UBC entered the old WCIAU in the 1961-62 season. They played for three seasons before departing for two, citing travel costs. The squad returned in 1966-67 and remain there today.

The team has won two WCIAA conference titles, in 1963 and 1971. They qualified for the University Cup in those two seasons, and in 1977. They lost the 1977 CWUAA final to Alberta, who were slated to host the University Cup that year.

1963 was the first season where the CIAU (forerunner of the CIS) held a national hockey championship. The `Birds went 8-1-1 in the regular season. At the U-Cup they beat Sherbrooke 6-2 in the semi-finals before losing the final to McMaster 3-2.

In 1971 the `Birds placed second to Manitoba in the regular season. However, they defeated Calgary in the semi-finals and Manitoba in the final to return to the U-Cup. In a five-team tournament, they lost 3-2 to Toronto, beat Loyola 6-4, then lost the third place game 7-4 to Laurentian.

By 1977 the west was split into the CWUAA and the GPAC. UBC placed second in the CWUAA and then lost to Alberta in the final. In the U-Cup they lost a 2-game semi-final series to Toronto 11-10 on aggregate.

As the 70s became the 80s the Thunderbirds never had a return to glory. They lost the 1978 final to Alberta and then finished either 3rd or 4th in the 4-team era of the CWUAA. Once the CWUAA merged with the GPAC, UBC never saw the playoffs until the field was expanded to 6 teams.

UBC's 4th place finish in 2014-15 was their first finish in the top four seeds since 1989-90, when they placed 3rd. In between they always placed 5th or lower. Also in that period, they won three playoff series, all in the quarter-final (or division semi-final) round. In 2007 and 2009 they beat Lethbridge, and in 2014 they beat Saskatchewan. In all three series they were the lower seed. The 2014 win over Saskatchewan was their first series win over a "Big Four" team since they beat Manitoba in the 1971 WCIAA final. Their 2015 series win over Manitoba was their first home playoff series since the 1971 championship season.

In 2013-14 the program was put in doubt by UBC administration. However, efforts of the Vancouver Canucks and WHL owners appear to have saved the program, for the immediate future at least.

Season-by-Season Records Table

Senior: 1916-17 to 1960-61

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	F	A	Pts	Placing
1917 VCSL	1	0	1	0	3	4	0	w/d
1917-18	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1918-19	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1919-20	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1921 VCSL	6	2	4	0	19	20	4	3rd of 4
1921 Playoffs	4	3	0	1	12	9	7	won league
1921 Provincials	2	1	1	0	7	6	2	won province
1922 VIL	6	3	3	0	18	14	6	3rd
1922 Playoffs	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	semi-finals
1923 to 1945	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1946 Provincials	3	1	2	0	7	20	2	semi-finals
1946-47	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1947-48	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1948-49	?	?	?	?	?	?	?	n/a
1950 Hamber	4	3	1	0	17	11	6	won series
1951 Hamber	2	0	1	1	5	7	1	lost series
1952 Hamber	2	0	1	1	7	11	1	lost series
1953 Hamber	2	0	2	0	5	14	0	lost series
1954 Hamber	2	0	2	0	4	16	0	lost series
1955 Hamber	2	0	2	0	7	9	0	lost series
1956 Hamber	2	1	1	0	7	8	2	lost series
1957 Hamber	2	0	2	0	7	12	0	lost series
1958 Hamber	2	0	2	0	3	19	0	lost series
1959 Hamber	2	0	2	0	6	17	0	lost series
1960 Hamber	2	0	2	0	6	15	0	lost series
1961 Hamber	2	0	2	0	6	23	0	lost series

WCIAU/WCIAA: 1961-62 to 1971-72

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	F	A	Pts	Placing
1962 Hamber	2	0	2	0	6	13	0	lost series∞
1962 WCIAU	8	0	8	0	18	61	0	3rd
1963 Hamber	2	1	0	1	5	3	3	won series∞
1963 WCIAA	10	8	1	1	42	20	17	1st ∆
1963 U-Cup	2	1	1	0	8	5	2	lost final
1964 Hamber	2	0	2	0	2	11	0	lost series∞
1964 WCIAA	12	6	6	0	51	48	12	2nd
1965 Hamber	2	1	1	0	8	16	2	lost series
1966 Hamber	2	0	2	0	4	10	0	lost series
1967 Hamber	3	0	3	0	5	13	0	lost series∞
1967 WCIAA	15	6	9	0	63	63	12	4th
1967 CWG	6	4	2	0	38	16	8	silver
1968 Hamber	2	0	2	0	2	11	0	lost series∞
1968 WCIAA	16	7	9	0	61	63	14	4th
1969 WCIAA	20	10	10	0	110	95	20	4th
1970 WCIAA	14	8	6	0	91	59	16	4th
1970 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	7	15	0	semi-finals
1971 WCIAA	20	15	5	0	132	69	30	2nd
1971 Playoffs	5	4	1	0	31	18	8	champion ∆
1971 U-Cup	3	1	2	0	12	14	2	4th
1972 WCIAA	20	14	6	0	129	73	28	W 3rd

CWUAA/GPAC Split Era: 1972-73 to 1984-85

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	F	A	Pts	Placing
1973 CWUAA	24	16	8	0	148	85	32	3rd
1973 Asia Tour	10	9	1	0	73	16	18	exhibition
1974 CWUAA	18	9	9	0	-	-	18	3rd
1975 CWUAA	24	12	11	1	94	97	24	2nd
1975 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	6	10	2	finalist
1976 CWUAA	24	12	12	0	91	86	24	3rd
1977 CWUAA	24	14	10	0	110	85	28	2nd ∆
1977 U-Cup	2	1	1	0	10	11	2	semi-finals
1978 CWUAA	24	14	10	0	125	89	28	2nd
1978 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	5	14	2	finalist
1979 CWUAA	24	7	17	0	82	129	14	3rd
1980 CWUAA	29	12	17	0	137	148	24	4th
1981 CWUAA	24	5	19	0	91	145	10	4th
1982 CWUAA	24	6	18	0	67	122	12	4th
1983 CWUAA	24	9	15	0	88	166	18	4th
1984 CWUAA	24	11	13	0	96	111	22	3rd
1985 CWUAA	24	12	12	0	112	108	24	3rd

CWUAA Unified Era: 1985-86 to present

Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	T	F	A	Pts	Placing
1986 CWUAA	28	12	16	0	113	144	24	6th
1987 CWUAA	28	9	17	2	111	139	24	5th
1987 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	3	9	0	semi-finals
1988 CWUAA	28	10	16	2	117	147	22	5th
1989 CWUAA	28	13	14	1	135	118	27	5th
1990 CWUAA	28	16	11	1	119	102	27	3rd
1990 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	4	12	0	semi-finals
1991 CWUAA	28	8	15	5	112	140	21	6th
1992 CWUAA	28	11	14	3	110	137	25	7th
1993 CWUAA	28	7	19	2	97	128	16	7th
1994 CWUAA	28	7	17	4	101	150	18	6th
1995 CWUAA	28	10	13	5	103	120	25	6th
1996 CWUAA	28	9	17	2	98	130	20	M 4th
1997 CWUAA	26	7	16	3	81	105	17	M 4th
1998 CWUAA	28	9	15	4	77	94	22	M 3rd
1998 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	9	13	2	quarter-finals
1999 CWUAA	28	7	18	3	84	102	17	M 4th
2000 CWUAA	28	5	19	4	69	122	14	M 4th
2001 CWUAA	28	6	19	3	74	108	15	M 4th
2002 CWUAA	28	5	19	4	67	111	14	M 4th
2003 CWUAA	28	5	23	0	59	125	10	M 4th
2004 CWUAA	28	7	19	2	64	107	16	M 3rd
2004 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	7	11	2	quarter-finals
2005 CWUAA	28	5	17	6	75	107	16	M 3rd
2005 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	2	9	0	quarter-finals
2006 CWUAA	28	12	15	1	79	100	25	M 3rd
2006 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	9	12	2	quarter-finals
Year/Comp.	GP	W	L	OL	F	A	Pts	Placing
2007 CWUAA	28	14	13	1	76	88	29	M 3rd
2007 Playoffs	5	2	3	0	17	20	4	semi-finals
2008 CWUAA	28	12	16	0	86	92	24	6th
2008 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	2	10	0	quarter-finals
2009 CWUAA	28	11	14	3	59	85	25	6th
2009 Playoffs	5	2	3	0	16	20	4	semi-finals
2010 CWUAA	28	8	19	1	67	117	17	7th
2010 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	2	10	0	quarter-finals
2011 CWUAA	28	11	12	5	76	101	27	6th
2012 CWUAA	28	12	12	4	77	88	28	5th
2012 Playoffs	3	1	2	-	6	10	2	quarter-finals
2013 CWUAA	28	14	11	3	84	84	31	5th
2013 Playoffs	3	1	2	0	6	9	2	quarter-finals
2014 CWUAA	28	11	15	2	89	101	24	6th
2014 Playoffs	5	2	3	0	17	20	4	semi-finals
2015 CWUAA	28	13	10	5	79	75	31	4th
2015 Playoffs	5	2	3	0	15	13	4	semi-finals
2016 CWUAA	28	11	13	4	71	90	26	6th
2016 Playoffs	2	0	2	0	4	10	0	quarter-finals
2017 CWUAA	28	12	13	3	76	95	27	6th
2017 Playoffs	2	0	2	-	6	10	0	quarter-finals
2018 CWUAA	28	16	10	2	83	79	34	4th ø
2018 Playoffs	3	1	2	-	9	11	2	quarter-finals
2019 CWUAA	28	14	12	2	69	93	30	4th
2019 Playoffs	2	0	2	-	3	7	0	quarter-finals

∆ qualified for Unversity Cup in 1963 and 1971 as conference champion and in 1977 as runner-up to the host
∞ indicates Hamber Trophy played as part of regular season
ø UBC was awarded 4 points from two losses to Calgary as a result of a forfeiture in 2017-18.

Notes:

The WCIAA played a two division format in 1971-72: West (W) and East (E).
The GPAC merged into the CWUAA in 1985-86.
The CWUAA played a two division format from 1996-97 to 2006-07: Mountain (M) and Great Plains (GP).

Commemorations

Championships

SENIOR

VCSL - 1921
Savage Cup - 1921

UNIVERSITY

WCIAA - 1963, 1971

University Cups

Hamber Trophy

From 1949-50 to 1967-68, the Alberta Golden Bears and the UBC Thunderbirds played an annual series for the Hamber Trophy. From 1961-62 onwards, UBC was often in the WCIAU or the WCIAA and in those seasons the teams' conference games counted towards this Trophy. The results are on the Season-by-Season Table.

International Games

1973 Tour to China and Japan

date	location	away	score	home
Dec 7	Beijing	UBC	5-0	China
Dec 9	Beijing	UBC	7-0	China
Dec 13	Harbin	UBC	9-2	Harbin
Dec 14	Harbin	UBC	14-1	Chichihar
Dec 15	Harbin	UBC	5-1	Huilunkiang
Dec 19	Changchun	UBC	8-1	Kirin
Dec 20	Kirin	UBC	8-0	Kirin
Dec 26	Tokyo	UBC	8-2	Japanese College All Stars
Dec 27	Tokyo	UBC	5-4	Kokuidokukaukau
Dec 28	Tokyo	UBC	4-5	Seibu Railway

2010 Pre-Olympic

Feb 10 Norway Olympic Team 4 UBC 1

Game Story

Thunderbirds who played in the NHL

Pictures

Savage20Cup — Savage Cup (BC senior champions)

2012-UBCvBieksasBuddies-ticket — Charity Game
October 17, 2012
Bieksa's Buddies v UBC

20140209 UBC-Alvin-Tian-6-300x200 — 2013-14 home jersey

2017-UBC-CaptainsCup — 2017-18 UBC Thunderbirds
September 30, 2017 Captains' Cup

171202-UBC-UM2-StCroix — UBC v Manitoba - December 2, 2017

Alternate Logos

Links

Current Teams

Former Teams

CW Teams in Other Leagues

Also see

National links:

Canadian Interuniversity Sport
List of University Cup Playoffs (from 1962-63 to present)

Western links:

Canada West Universities Athletic Association
List of CWUAA Seasons (from 1972-73 to present)
Great Plains Athletic Conference
List of GPAC Seasons (from 1972-73 to 1984-85)
List of WCIAA Seasons (from 1962-63 to 1971-72)
List of WCIAU Seasons (from 1918-19 to 1961-62)

Atlantic links:

Ontario-Quebec links:

Ontario University Athletics
RSEQ (formerly Quebec Student Sports Federation)
Quebec-Ontario Athletic Association (with seasons from 1954 to 1971)
List of OUA Seasons (includes CIAU, QOAA & OUAA)
List of QOAA Seasons (from 1954 to 1971)
Ontario Intercollegiate Athletic Association (with seasons from 1965 to 1971)
Ottawa St. Lawrence Conference (with seasons from 1951 to 1971)
List of QUAA Seasons (from 1971-72 to 1986-87)
List of Intermediate Intercollegiate Seasons (from 1902-03 to 1938-39)
Ontario-Quebec Intermediate Intercollegiate series (from 1902-03 to 1934-35)
Senior Intercollegiate League (1945-46)
International Intercollegiate League (from 1936-37 to 1939-40)
West Point Weekend

College links:

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 ==Pictures==
-[[File:16-17UBC.jpg|thumb|center|293px|1816-17 UBC]]
+[[File:16-17UBC.jpg|thumb|center|293px|1916-17 UBC]]
 [[File:20-21UBC.jpg|center|thumb|400px|1921 UBC (VCSL)]]
 [[File:21-22UBC.jpg|center|thumb|400px|1922 UBC (VIL)]]