PRSPECTVES: Is This School Leaving The NCAA To Join U SPORTS?
+ U SPORTS blocks record broken, three U SPORTS volleyball takeaways, curling results, Ice Maples' success, and more
via Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University announced its intentions to apply for readmission into U SPORTS this past Wednesday in an official press release by the university. This marks the end of a 15-year run competing as the only Canadian university to compete in the NCAA — the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) — and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
Quick rundown: In September, SFU commissioned an independent report analyzing the long-term impact of remaining in the NCAA versus transitioning back to Canadian college athletics. The findings of this report, in addition to internal reviews and consultation with student-athletes, concluded that it would be in the university’s best interest to leave the American college athletics framework and pursue membership in U SPORTS and Canada West.
Why the move? SFU’s decision ultimately comes down to sustainability — citing financial pressures, logistical challenges, and long-term viability as key factors. SFU’s athletics department projects budget cuts totaling up to $1 million across the next five years. In contrast, transitioning back to U SPORTS is estimated to yield $1.1 million in savings while maintaining a high-quality experience for its student-athletes within a sustainable operating model.
The impact: SFU also announced that multiple teams will be axed due to a lack of a U SPORTS national championship structure.
Teams being retired include:
Men’s Golf
Women’s Golf
Softball
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field
(Note: U SPORTS does have track and field national championships.)
The university has confirmed that indoor track and field will also be reviewed as part of this decision.
Big picture: With this news coming after McGill University announced the cutting of 25 varsity teams, and Bishop’s departure from the AUS, funding remains an issue across the broader landscape of Canadian university athletics.
Will more universities follow suit with their own reviews — and potential athletic budget cuts — signaling an even larger shift in the Canadian sporting landscape?
What’s next? A decision on whether SFU will be readmitted to U SPORTS and Canada West is expected to be announced this coming spring or summer. If accepted, SFU would begin competing in U SPORTS in the 2027-28 season.
Record Broken: Connor Platz Breaks the U SPORTS Record for All-Time Career Blocks
via Trinity Western Spartans
Trinity Western University fifth-year centre Connor Platz broke the all-time U SPORTS record for career blocks in TWU’s 87-64 victory over the University of Lethbridge this past Saturday.
Platz recorded his 213th career block late in the fourth quarter, surpassing the previous record of 212 set by York’s Stefan Haynes (2006–11).
Three Takeaways From the First Half of the U SPORTS Volleyball Season
Heat Check 🔥
The UBCO Heat men’s volleyball team is off to its best start in program history. Their five-set win over Brandon University this past weekend marked their eighth consecutive victory — their longest streak in Canada West play. This also marked their 11th win of the season, breaking the program record for wins in Canada West play, which was previously set at 10 in the 2021–22 season. The Heat head into the winter break with an 11–1 record, placing them first in Canada West, and are now the No. 4 nationally ranked team — their highest-ever national ranking.
Kaden Schmidt: Player of the Year Watch
If the season ended today, Kaden Schmidt would undoubtedly be the player of the year. His 201 kills, 230 points, 5.03 K/S, and 5.8 PTS/S lead all of U SPORTS. The fourth-year outside hitter has led the TWU Spartans to an 8–2 record and the No. 2-ranked spot in the country at the conclusion of the first semester. Will anyone be able to catch Kaden Schmidt?
Who Will Conquer the West?
With Sherbrooke (RSEQ), UNB (AUS), and Brock (OUA) solidifying themselves at the top of their respective conferences, Canada West remains up for grabs. Yes, Thompson Rivers holds the top spot in the conference; however, despite being first, the TRU Wolfpack are still ranked seventh nationally behind UBC, U of A, and TWU, making things complicated in Canada West. Who will conquer the West?
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials: Results and Recap
The Canadian Olympic curling trials have been decided — Team Jacobs, captained by Brad Jacobs, and Team Homan, captained by Rachel Homan, will both represent Canada in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Brad Jacobs will be making his second Olympic appearance alongside Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert after taking down Matt Dunstone’s squad in a two-game sweep (9-8, 6-5) in the men’s final of the Canadian curling trials. Jacobs captured Olympic gold at the 2014 Sochi Games, while teammates Kennedy and Hebert earned gold in 2010. Gallant, who won Olympic bronze in 2022, will also compete in the mixed doubles event alongside fellow Canadian Jocelyn Peterman.
Rachel Homan will be making her third Olympic appearance with teammates Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew, and Sarah Wilkes, following a two-game sweep (5-4, 12-3) over Christina Black to win the women’s final. Homan will be making her third straight Olympic appearance, with her first coming in 2018 alongside teammate Miskew. This coming Winter Games will mark the first Olympics for both Fleury and Wilkes.
The Ice Maples Keep Rolling at the Final Short Track Event
The Ice Maples are on top of the short track world after completing a full sweep of the men’s, women’s, and team crystal globes after the final event of the short track world tour in Dordrecht, Netherlands.
With seven gold and one silver, William Dandjinou captured the men’s crystal globe. Dandjinou finished the season with 876 points, ahead of Italy’s Pietro Sighal’s 664 points, after winning gold in the 1500m final, silver in the 500m final, and gold in the 1000m B final this past weekend. This is Dandjinou’s second straight crystal globe after winning in 2024.
Courtney Sarault became the first-ever Canadian to win the women’s title after a 2025 campaign that saw her amass nine total medals — five gold, three silver, and one bronze. Sarault clinched the women’s crystal globe after winning silver in the 1500m final and gold in the women’s 500m final on the final day of competition, finishing the season with 980 points.
To cap things off, the Ice Maples took home their second straight crystal globe, completing the year with 31 total medals — 15 gold, seven silver, and nine bronze. Their 2025 efforts brought them 5,656 points, edging out the Dutch Lions, who finished the season with 4,807 points.
Quick Hits
🏈 Former Hec Creighton Award winner Taylor Elgersma worked out for the San Francisco 49ers this past Monday. The two-time OUA MVP and former Laurier quarterback spent the 2025 season with the Green Bay Packers.
🏀 Regina’s Jade Belmore got called up to Team Canada’s 3x3 FIBA team midseason and helped the squad capture silver at the FIBA AmeriCup alongside Paige Crozon, Michelle Ploufe, and Merissah Russell in Léon, Mexico.
🏀 The Canadian men’s national team defeated the Bahamas 94‑88 in the 2027 World Cup qualifying this past Monday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
⚽️ The Vancouver Whitecaps will be taking on Inter Miami and Lionel Messi this Saturday in the MLS Cup final in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
⚽️ The women’s national team lost their fifth straight match after a 3‑0 loss to Japan in an international friendly yesterday in Nagasaki, Japan. This is their longest losing streak since 2019.
⚾️ Dylan Cease inked a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, marking the second-highest contract in franchise history after Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million deal, and the highest free-agent contract in franchise history.
🏐 Montreal Carabins alum Marie-Alex Bélanger and UCLA Bruins alum Lea Monkhouse will be competing at the World Volleyball Pro Tour Elite 16 in Itapema, Brazil. Their first match is tomorrow against Puerto Rico’s María González and Allanis Navas.