LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans open the Canada West season as the No. 7-ranked team according to the Canada West preseason coaches' poll. The Spartans kick off the season Friday night at 7 p.m. when they host the No. 8-ranked Regina Cougars, then follow up with game two of the two-game series Saturday at 3 p.m. Both matches can be seen live on Canada West TV.
The Spartans, who made it to the CW semi-finals last season, enter the 2026–27 season with a young, skilled roster supported by an experienced senior leadership group. TWU will look to
Kara Yackel and
Presleigh Giesbrecht, CW second-team all-star, to lead a mix of returning players and talented newcomers. The Spartans are once again looking to make another playoff run in a wide-open Canada West.
2026-27 Canada West Women's Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Mount Royal Cougars - 67 (4)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 61 (3)
- Manitoba Bisons - 60 (2)
- Calgary Dinos - 49
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 48
- Alberta Pandas - 34
- Trinity Western Spartans - 33
- Regina Cougars - 28
- MacEwan Griffins - 16
From the coach: "We are a very young team with most players at or under their third-year. We have a great core leadership group of seniors with a good mix of compete and skill all around. We have three young goalies so we might take some time to find our step but with the group and strong culture we have once we find it we will be a very competitive team that will compete with anyone."
Key Performer: Presleigh Giesbrecht
?Defence | 5th Year | Gretna, Man.
Presleigh has worked very hard this summer and is wanting to help the Spartans compete for a long run in playoffs while becoming the top D in our league and earning a chance to play in the PWHL. Presleigh is an incredibly hardworking, fast and competitive defender who will log large minutes and be a huge part of special teams.
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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