EDMONTON - The 2022 Canada West football season returns on Saturday at Thunderbird Stadium, where the Alberta Golden Bears start their campaign on the road against UBC.

The Bears and 'Birds both made the playoffs last year, with UBC returning to Hardy Cup competition for the first time in two seasons. The Bears (3-3) were taken down on the road by the Manitoba Bisons 43-17, while the TBirds (3-3) lost to the eventual Hardy Cup winning Saskatchewan Huskies 39-17.

GAME INFORMATION

Golden Bears Football (0-0 Conference, 1-0 Overall)
Conference
Saturday, September 3
Alberta @ UBC Thunderbirds (0-0), Thunderbird Stadium, 8:00 p.m. MT

WEEK 1 GAME NOTES

 

LIVE STATS

 

WEBCAST

HEADLINES

• The teams also started the Canada West season against each other last year, with Alberta's Foote Field seeing a 44-19 Golden Bears win.
• The season series was split, however, with a 30-27 UBC victory over the Bears in mid-November.
• UBC holds the all-time edge over the Golden Bears with a 52-41-2 record which includes a 27-12-1 record at Thunderbird Stadium.
• The Golden Bears return three CW all-stars: K/DB Jonathan Giustini, DB Tyshon Blackburn, and OL Rodeem Brown.
• The TBirds return CW all-star RB Isaish Knight, as well as CW Rookie of the Year QB Garrett Rooker.
• The Bears are in search of their 17th Hardy Cup championship, while the Thunderbirds look to capture their 9th, and first since the 2015 season. The Bears last Hardy Cup win came in 1981.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alberta: DB Tyshon Blackburn - The third-year defensive back captured first team honours in both the Canada West and U SPORTS all-star teams in the 2021 season. He led the Bears with 2 interceptions in 6 Canada West games and will figure heavily into the Bears defensive scheme this season. His lockdown play will make a huge impact on UBC's ability to stretch the field.

UBC: QB Garrett Rooker - Rooker is no rookie anymore after a phenomenal season that netted him the 2021 Canada West Rookie of the Year award. He finished third in the league in passing yards and completion percentage, and fourth in touchdowns thrown and rushing yards among QBs. Rookers dual-threat capability will keep the Alberta defence on their toes Saturday evening.