CW Coaches Poll: Griffins voted 17th, will tip-off new season at Saskatchewan Friday
Canada West Communications
Under new head coach David Kapinga, the Griffins men's basketball team will launch into a new season on Friday at Saskatchewan.
As expected with a program building a foundation for success in the future, they'll have to earn their respect as opposing coaches have voted them to finish 17th in the annual preseason coaches poll.
MacEwan will visit No. 11 Saskatchewan this weekend as they tip-off a new season on Friday (8 p.m. MT) and Saturday (7 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).
The Griffins will return to Edmonton for their home opener vs. Winnipeg on Oct. 31 (7 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
PURCHASE SEASON PASSES AND TICKETS HERE (MacEwan students get in free!)
For the first time since 2019, the defending conference champions hail from the University of Calgary. The Dinos ended Victoria's three-year reign last season with a stunning semifinal victory, handing the Vikes their first loss of the year and halting an undefeated campaign.
Calgary carried that momentum into the conference final, defeating UBC to capture the eighth Canada West championship in their program history.
The Vikes, however, completed a full redemption story. The two powerhouses met again in the national final, with Victoria dominating from start to finish to claim their ninth U SPORTS championship—and first since 1997—with a convincing 82–53 victory.
Based on the Canada West coaches poll, both teams will be formidable again as they look to defend their banners. Victoria topped this year's poll with 14 first place votes, while Calgary came in fifth. Manitoba placed second with two first place votes, while their cross-city rival Winnipeg placed third, also receiving a first place vote. UBC came in fourth.
The regular season begins with a full slate of games running Friday through Sunday. The schedule runs through Feb. 7, with playoffs beginning Feb. 13 and the Canada West final scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 27.
All roads lead to Calgary for the 2026 U SPORTS national championships, which will be hosted by the Dinos at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium from March 6 to 8.
Fans can stream every game on CanadaWest.TV - Powered by BioSteel. This season, purchasing an All-Access pass allows fans to download three games to keep forever. A regular season pass is also available, allowing fans to catch all the action across both men's and women's volleyball for one low price.
2025-26 CW MBB PRE-SEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- Victoria Vikes - 254 (14)
- Manitoba Bisons - 235 (2)
- Winnipeg Wesmen - 219 (1)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 218
- Calgary Dinos - 186
- Alberta Golden Bears - 183
- Trinity Western Spartans - 158
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 149
- Mount Royal Cougars - 137
- Lethbridge Pronghorns - 99
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 94
- Regina Cougars - 88
- Brandon Bobcats - 81
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 80
- UNBC Timberwolves - 57
- UBCO Heat - 51
- MacEwan Griffins - 23
MacEwan Griffins Season Preview
Coaches Poll Rank: #17
Team Overview: New head coach David Kapinga has transformed the roster by bringing in 10 new players who weren't at MacEwan a year ago. Well respected already in coaching circles, Kapinga will lean on his experience as a star player of the Calgary Dinos after being named tournament MVP of Calgary's 2018 U SPORTS championship victory.
Kapinga knows what it takes to win and will be aiming to turn MacEwan into a contender over the next few seasons. That will start with making the playoffs, a definite goal of Kapinga's group in 2025-26.
From the coach: "This season represents a fresh start for the MacEwan men's basketball program, featuring a new coaching staff, new systems, and a re-energized roster. Our primary focus is on building a strong foundation by ensuring our players understand and execute our new style of play — emphasizing pace, space, and discipline on offence, while maintaining a disruptive and connected approach on defence. We aim to compete at a high level each game and put ourselves in a position to win every time we step on the court." - David Kapinga
Key Performer: Elisha Ampofo
Guard | 5th Year | Milton, Ont.
Among the top players for the Brandon Bobcats from 2019-24 – averaging 13.4 points/game in his final season there in 2023-24 – Ampofo has transferred to MacEwan for his final year of eligibility.
Bringing the leadership that can only come from being a key player for four seasons already in Canada West, the 6-foot-2 guard can score and make plays, while also being a fierce force defensively. He has already shown his ability in preseason, leading the Griffins in scoring in every outing he's been in the lineup so far.
