FB: Conference action returns September 25

June 21, 2021

VANCOUVER - The wait for Canada West football is almost over.

On Monday, the conference announced its 2021 football schedule which features all six teams kicking off the season on September 25.

The Alberta Golden Bears and UBC Thunderbirds will meet in Edmonton on the first Saturday afternoon of the season while the Regina Rams visit the Manitoba Bisons. Fans won't have to wait long for a rematch of the 2019 Hardy Cup as the defending conference champion Calgary Dinos host the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saturday's late afternoon matchup.

As announced by the conference on May 5, an alternate format will be used for the 2021 football season. Schools will play six game regular season schedule that will include one game against each of the other five schools and a second meeting with one school. The home-and-home matchups will be played in Weeks 1 & 7 with UBC, Saskatchewan and Regina drawing hosting duties in the final weekend of the regular season.

Key dates:

Saturday, September 25: Opening night of the 2021 CW football season, with all six teams in action
Friday, October 1: The only Friday night on the CW schedule features a pair of games - Manitoba at Alberta and Saskatchewan at UBC
Friday, October 9: Conference-wide bye week
Sunday, October 24: The lone Sunday game on the regular season schedule sees Alberta visit Calgary
Saturday, November 6: Second half of a home-and-home meeting with Week 1 opponents
November 12-14: Hardy Cup Semifinals* *Dates determined by host field availability
November 19-21: CW champion crowned at the 84th Hardy Cup* *Dates determined by host field availability

The playoff format for 2021 will remain the same as previous seasons. The Hardy Cup semifinals are set for the weekend of November 13 with the winners advancing to the 84th Hardy Cup on the weekend of November 20. Due to the variability of hosting protocols at shared stadiums, exact dates for the 84th Hardy Cup and the Hardy Cup semifinals will be confirmed once hosting duties have been earned.

Further details on the Canada West Football Showcase will be unveiled in the coming months.

Fans looking to watch gridiron action on Canada West TV presented by Co-op - the only home for all 21 CW football games - will be able to buy passes beginning in August when 2021-22 packages go on sale to the public.

2021 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

REGULAR SEASON

WEEK 1

Saturday, Sept. 25: UBC @ ALB / 1:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Saturday, Sept. 25: REG @ MAN / 2:00 p.m. CDT / Investors Group Field
Saturday, Sept. 25: SSK @ CGY / 4:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium

WEEK 2

Friday, Oct. 1: MAN @ ALB / 7:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Friday, Oct. 1: SSK @ UBC / 7:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 2: CGY @ REG / 2:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium

WEEK 3 - BYE

WEEK 4

Saturday, Oct. 16: CGY @ MAN / 2:00 p.m. CDT / Investors Group Field
Saturday, Oct. 16: UBC @ REG / 2:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 16 ALB @ SSK / 2:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium

WEEK 5

Saturday, Oct. 23: MAN @ UBC / 1:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 23: REG @ SSK / 2:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium
Sunday, Oct. 24: ALB @ CGY / 2:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium

WEEK 6

Saturday, Oct. 30: REG @ ALB / 1:00 p.m. MDT / Foote Field
Saturday, Oct. 30: SSK @ MAN / 2:00 p.m. CDT / Investors Group Field
Saturday, Oct. 30: UBC @ CGY / 2:00 p.m. MDT / McMahon Stadium

WEEK 7

Saturday, Nov. 6: ALB @ UBC / 1:00 p.m. PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 6: MAN @ REG / 2:00 p.m. CST / Mosaic Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 6: CGY @ SSK / 2:00 p.m. CST / Griffiths Stadium

PLAYOFFS

HARDY CUP SEMIS

Nov 12-14: No. 4 @ No. 1 / No. 3 @ No. 2

84TH HARDY CUP

Nov 19-21: semifinal winners @ highest remaining seed