CALGARY - A field hockey dynasty. That's what the Victoria Vikes are chasing this year, as they seek out their fourth straight Canada West title. The team was dominant last season, going a perfect 8-0 on the regular season before taking home both the CW and U SPORTS championship banners.

Led by the reigning CW and U SPORTS Player of the Year, the Vikes will again look to set the pace for this season as they also seek their fourth-straight national gold.

In their way stands the UBC Thunderbirds, the winningest team in Canada West history. The school will be keen to keep that title by dethroning the Vikes. The Thunderbirds have 25 conference titles to their name, while the Vikes boast 22. UBC aims to get back to its historical form led by a strong defence core with several key additions at midfield.

With two strong teams already in the field, the Calgary Dinos will be looking to find their way into the win column this year after several seasons of falling victim to the Vikes and T-Birds.

It all starts Saturday, when Victoria visits Calgary for the season opener at 11 a.m. The two will match up again Sunday at the same time. UBC will enter the game the following weekend, as they head to Calgary on September 17 and 18, with both matches slated for 11 a.m. as well.

For the complete schedule, click here.

2022 TEAM PREVIEWS

• UBC Thunderbirds
• Calgary Dinos
• Victoria Vikes

UBC THUNDERBIRDS

2021 CW regular season record: 4-2
Head coach: Poonam Sandhu (5^th season) / 10-4-8 Career CW reg. season record
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2017 / 25
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2017 / 19


2021 CW regular season ranks:

• Offence: 13 goals for, 2^nd
• Defence: 6 goals against, 2^nd

2021 CW regular season leaders: (list returning players only)

• Goals: 3 / Mikayla Stelling, Forward
• Wins: 3 / Hannah Rumble

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):

Kenzie Girgis / Midfielder / 1 / Ottawa, Ont. / Outaouais Field Hockey Club
Hazel Taylor / Midfielder / 1 / Calgary, Alta. / Legacy Academy
Shyana Ringma / Midfielder 1 / Victoria, B.C. / Mount Douglas Secondary
Alyson Denis / Forward / 1 / Edmonton, Alta. / Cowichan Secondary


Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):

Thora Rae / Forward / Vancouver, B.C. / 5
Jordyn Faiczak / Midfielder / Waterloo, Ont. / 5
Sara Goodman / Defender / Duncan, B.C. / 5


Key performer:

• Kaileigh Chow
• Defender
• 5^th
• Vancouver, B.C.

Entering her final season as a UBC Thunderbird, Kaileigh Chow continues to be a leader on and off the field for the blue and gold. A 2021 Canada West All-Star, the Vancouver native is a four-time Academic All-Canadian.

CALGARY DINOS

2021 CW regular season record: 0-8
Head coach: Jenn Swagar - 7th season / Career CW reg. season record: 16-40-12
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 1974/2
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None


2021 CW regular season ranks:

• Offence: 1 goals for, 3rd in CW
• Defence: 44 goals against, 3rd in CW

2021 CW regular season leaders: (list returning players only)

• Goals: None
• Wins: None

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Caileigh Coverdale / F / 2 / Calgary, AB / York Univ.
Maya Doman / D / 1 / Duncan, BC / VILFA
Elisa Johnson / F / 1 / Calgary, AB / Team Alberta

Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Madison MacMillan / D / West Vancouver, BC / 5
Kenzie McMillan-Harrington / M / Oliver, BC / 5
Melanie Scholz / M / Calgary, AB / 4
Jen Wishart / F / Calgary, AB / 5

Key performer:

• Jadyn Campbell
• Defender
• 2
• Calgary, AB

As Jenn Swagar begins her second stint as head coach at the University of Calgary, she will be looking to Jadyn Campbell as the team's 'quarterback'. The tall defender, who enters her second year with the Dinos, will be relied upon for her great vision and calm defending as they try to disrupt the UBC and Victoria attacks this fall.

VICTORIA VIKES

2021 CW regular season record: 7-0-1
Head coach: Lynne Beecroft / 39th season / 242-68-77
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2021 / 20
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2021 / 14


2021 CW regular season ranks:

• Offence: 32 goals for, 1st
• Defence: 3 goals against, 1st

2021 CW regular season leaders: (list returning players only)

• Goals: 9 / Chloe Langkammer - Forward
• Wins: N/A (Robin Fleming, 7, not returning this season)

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Daya Titsworth / GK / First / Trail, B.C. / JL Crowe Hawks
Maeve Connorton / MID / First / Victoria, B.C. / Team BC
Julia Boraston / DEF/MID /First / Victoria, B.C. / Field Hockey Canada NextGen
Katie Bentley / MID / First / Victoria, B.C. / Team BC

Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Robin Fleming / GK / Duncan, B.C. / 4
Ashton Aumen / FOR / Duncan, B.C. / 4


Key performer:

• Anna Mollenhauer
• Defender
• Fifth
• Victoria, B.C.

Anna Mollenhauer, the 2021 Canada West and U SPORTS Player of the Year, returns to the Vikes' lineup for her fifth season in 2022. During her All-Canadian 2021 campaign, Mollenhauer registered four goals during Canada West play, helping the Vikes go 7-0-1 en route to the conference title. Helping lead the Vikes to their third-straight U SPORTS national title, Mollenhauer was the only player in the tournament to score in all three shootouts. Mollenhauer is also a member of the Field Hockey Canada Senior Women's National Team.