LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans open the Canada West season ranked No. 9 in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll. The Spartans kick off the season next Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. with a trip to Vancouver to face the No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds at War Memorial Gym. TWU will return to the Langley Events Centre to host the No. 1 Victoria Vikes. Game time is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Both games can be seen live on Canada West TV.
2026-27 CW MBB PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Victoria Vikes - 250 (10)
- Winnipeg Wesmen - 237 (5) ?
- UBC Thunderbirds - 227 (2)
- Alberta Golden Bears - 217
- Calgary Dinos - 174
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 173
- Mount Royal Cougars - 140
- Manitoba Bisons - 135
- Trinity Western Spartans - 133
- Regina Cougars - 126
- Lethbridge Pronghorns - 97
- UNBC Timberwolves - 92
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 89
- Brandon Bobcats - 87
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 82
- UBCO Heat - 29
- MacEwan Griffins - 24
Team Overview: The Spartans enter the season with a veteran roster built around strong shooting, skill, and team chemistry. With four starters returning from last season, TWU will look to build on its established core while integrating key additions, including Kel Gatwech.
Pearse Long,
Caleb Gremaud, and
Logan Stewart are also poised to take on larger roles, adding depth heading into the new campaign.
From the coach: "We have a nice mix of great floor spacing/shooting and veteran maturity anchored by a handful of multi-year starters who know what it takes to win. On the other end, we are locking in as a much grittier, more active defensive team this year, aiming to use that speed to disrupt opponents and turn stops into transition opportunities for quick buckets. If we can stay healthy and keep our core guys on the floor, we have a chance to put together a really good season." -
Trevor Pridie
Key Performer: Marcus Shankar
?Guard | 5th Year | Campbell River, B.C.
"As a fifth-year senior, he really understands what we're about on both ends of the floor. He sets the tone with his effort and leadership and has improved every season he's been with us. I expect him to have a great senior year." -
Trevor Pridie
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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