Axemen take on Alberta in opening game of U Cup

The U SPORTS University Cup men's hockey championship gets underway this Thursday at the Aitken University Centre in Fredericton, N.B.  The semifinals as well as the final of the University Cup will be broadcast live on Sportsnet 360 and SN Now.

Remaining games from all competitions will be webcast on USPORTS.LIVE.

NOTES: Complete championship previews will follow on Tuesday for men's and women's hockey, followed by men's and women's volleyball on Wednesday. The 2017 U SPORTS All-Canadian Awards galas are set for Wednesday evening for three of the four championships, with the men's volleyball All-Canadian Awards breakfast scheduled for Thursday morning.  
 
Following are the seedings and schedule:

2017 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup 
(Aitken University Centre, University of New Brunswick)

Looking for their 16th University Cup title and third national banner since 2014, the No.1 Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West champions) are joined in Fredericton by the No.2 StFX X-Men (AUS champions) No.3 York Lions (OUA champions), No.4 Queen's Gaels (OUA finalists), No.5 UNB Varsity Reds (AUS finalists/hosts), No.6 Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West finalists), No.7 McGill Redmen (OUA bronze medalists), and No.8 Acadia Axemen (AUS bronze medalists). 

Thursday's quarter-final matchups include Alberta vs. Acadia in the 1 p.m. AT opener, followed by Queen's vs. host UNB at 7 p.m. AT. The other quarterfinals are set for Friday, with York vs. Saskatchewan at 1 p.m. AT, as well as StFX vs. McGill at 7 p.m., AT.

The Golden Bears (18-8-2 regular season), earned their fourth No.1 seed in the last five years, after reclaiming the Canada West banner over Saskatchewan with a 6-3 victory in Game 3 of the conference championship.

SEEDING

Team (playoff finish: regular season record / playoff record)

1. Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West champions: 18-8-2 / 4-1)
2. StFX X-Men (AUS champions: 16-12-2 / 7-0)
3. York Lions (OUA champions: 18-6-4 / 7-1)
4. Queen's Gaels (OUA finalists: 18-7-3 / 6-3)
5. UNB Varsity Reds (AUS finalists/hosts: 25-2-3 / 3-3)
6. Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West finalists: 21-5-2 / 3-2)
7. McGill Redmen (OUA bronze medalists: 21-4-3 / 5-2)
8. Acadia Axemen (AUS bronze medalists: 20-8-2 / 2-3)

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times AT)

Wednesday, March 15
5:30 p.m. 2017 U SPORTS Men's Hockey All-Canadian Awards

Thursday, March 16
1:00 p.m. Quarter-final 1: No.1 Alberta vs. No. 8 Acadia (USPORTS.LIVE)
7 p.m. Quarter-final 2: No.4 Queen's vs. No. 5 UNB (USPORTS.LIVE)

Friday, March 17
1 p.m. Quarter-final 3: No.3 York vs. No. 6 Saskatchewan (USPORTS.LIVE)
7 p.m. Quarter-final 4: No.2 StFX vs. No.7 McGill (USPORTS.LIVE)

Saturday, March 18
12 p.m. Semifinal 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)
4 p.m. Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)

Sunday, March 19
9:30 a.m. Bronze (USPORTS.LIVE)
1:00 p.m. Final (Sportsnet 360/SN Now)