Game Information
Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Time:5:30 p.m.
Location: Hillside Stadium
Tickets: At the gate
Watch:
canadawest.tv
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hillside Stadium
Tickets: At the gate
Watch:
canadawest.tv
Season Story
KAMLOOPS – The 2026 Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's soccer team will look to hit the ground running after a month-long preseason when they start their Canada West campaign at home this week.
Taking on the UVic Vikes on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and the UFV Cascades on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., the games will pit the 'Pack against teams that were picked highly in the CW preseason coaches poll with the Vikes' slated third and the Cascades fifth.
A new-look WolfPack roster was picked ninth in that same poll Wednesday morning and will be counting on a mixture of talented newcomers with a strong returning core to vault them back into the CW postseason in 2026.
Gelling together over a training camp that began in late July and featured six games against post-secondary competition,
the WolfPack feature 15 new faces this season, including several that boast experience playing at high levels.
Those newcomers will add to a core led by last year's captain Domenico Comita. Returning alongside the Kamloops local Comita, are last season's top point scorers Lachlan Will and Ben Finley as well as steady defenders Lewis Crompton and Liam Freathy.
The player poised to have perhaps the largest impact on the season for the 'Pack is returning midfielder Lucas Kirnon. The standout from Preston, ENG missed all of last season with injury after starting ten games a rookie in 2024.
The WolfPack are 8-11-3 all-time in Canada West play against the Vikes and will be aiming for their first win over UVic at Hillside Stadium since 2022.
TRU ended their season last year against the Cascades and went out on a high note with a 4-1 victory over UFV.
WOLFPACK 2026 SEASON PREVIEW
Key Performer
Lucas Kirnon, Midfield, 3rd year, Preston, ENG
A true box-to-box midfielder, Kirnon will be relied upon to control the middle of the pitch for the WolfPack this coming season. Joining TRU in 2024, Kirnon played in 813 minutes while starting ten games as a rookie before missing the 2025-26 campaign due to injury. Originally from Preston, ENG the midfielder has represented the nation of Montserrat at the senior international level.
Key Additions
Kaelin Nguyen / FWD / 4th year / Wellington, NZL / Western Suburbs
Noel Poole / MID / 2nd year / Kamloops, BC / Tennessee State
James Rainbird / DEF / 2nd year / Chelmsford, ENG / Wrexham AFC
Coaches' Quote
"We are a young squad that will be looking to take the next steps forward from our 2025 season. Good returning core, with key personnel returning from early season ending injuries will help reinforce the group." - WolfPack head coach, John Antulov
