KELOWNA, B.C. – Canada West basketball action is back beginning on Halloween as the UBC Okanagan Heat men's and women's teams tip off the upcoming season in Kamloops against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack as the conference released 2024-25 schedule on Wednesday morning.
 
This year's men's and women's schedules will follow the format changes announced by the conference last October, featuring two divisions with a 20-game slate that places an increased focus on regional rivalries.
 
There's no bigger rival for the Heat than the WolfPack as the two schools square off on opening night, October 31, with the first of three games in the race for the Presidents' Cup trophies.
 
UBCO then returns to Kelowna on Friday, November 1 for their 2024-25 home opener as they host the UNBC Timberwolves at the UBCO Gymnasium. The men's showdown will provide a strong early-season test for the Heat as they will be the first opponent for the Timberwolves since their Cinderella run to the Canada West bronze medal a year ago.
 
After a pair of road games against UFV on November 8 and 9, the Heat will be back home to take on the Trinity Western Spartans. For the Heat women, it will be their first meetings with the Spartans since they eliminated Trinity Western in the opening round of the conference playoffs a year ago, representing the program's first-ever Canada West playoff victory.
 
The Heat wrap up their three matchups with the Timberwolves in Prince George on November 22 and 23 before heading home to battle the UBC Thunderbirds and UFV Cascades on November 29 and 30 respectively to close out the Fall portion of their schedule.
 
January begins with a four-game road swing for UBCO with matchups against Alberta on January 17 and 18 followed by games against Trinity Western and Victoria on January 23 and 25.
 
The Heat will then close out the regular season by playing four of their final six games on home court.
 
First up are two final matches against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on January 31 and February 1 which will determine who wins the men's and women's Presidents' Cup trophies for 2024-25. The men's game on January 31 will be a School Day Game beginning at 11 a.m. as the Heat and WolfPack will play in front of local school children.
 
Following a pair of road games in Vancouver against UBC on February 7 and 8, the Heat will finish the regular season at home against the Victoria Vikes on February 14 and 15. The final home games on Saturday, February 15 will see the Heat honour their Graduating Seniors.
 
This season, the Canada West playoffs will revert back to a multi-site format, with all games hosted by the higher seed. The top seven teams from the Prairie Division and top five teams from the BC Division will advance to the playoffs based on their league standing using win/loss record. Single elimination play-in games will take place Feb. 21 and 22, featuring #12 at #5, #11 at #6, #10 at #7 and #9 at #8.
 
Single elimination semifinals will take place Feb. 28/March 1, with a winner-takes-all final set for March 7 or 8.
 
All roads lead to Vancouver with UBC set to host the 2025 U SPORTS men's and women's basketball championships at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre and War Memorial Gym. The women's event begins March 13, with the men's draw starting March 14. The national championship finals will be played on March 16. ?