The top level of university hockey will soon be played in 91原创.

The Trinity Western University (TWU) men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 hockey teams were officially voted into the Canada West conference beginning in the 2020/21 season.

This elevates the Spartans hockey teams to the U Sports level, Canada鈥檚 top tier of university sports.

The application was approved on Thursday (May 9) during the final day of the Canada West annual general meeting in Whistler.

鈥淭oday is an historic day that represents the end of a long journey and the beginning of a new era in Spartan Athletics for TWU,鈥� said director of athletics Jeff Gamache.

The Spartans move to Canada West has been a collaborative process with the Township of 91原创, the 91原创 Events Centre, and a variety of key constituents within the hockey community.

The men鈥檚 team will compete for the David Johnson University Cup, while the women鈥檚 team battles for the Golden Path Trophy.

鈥淗aving another two teams playing at the highest level of their respective sport will only add to the excitement here in 91原创,鈥� said Tyler Dinwoodie, associate director production services for 91原创 Events Centre.

鈥淲e look forward to watching the puck drop on their respective seasons in 2020 and welcoming some of the elite programs from across western Canada to the Township.鈥�

Trinity Western is one of two new member schools voted in to join hockey, alongside Edmonton鈥檚 MacEwan University.

They join the University of Alberta, UBC, University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, University of Manitoba, Mount Royal University, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.

The TWU women鈥檚 team came under the Spartans umbrella in 2018 and currently competes in the South Coast Women鈥檚 Hockey League.

The TWU men鈥檚 team is the two-time defending BC Intercollegiate Hockey League champion and have played in the league final four of the past five seasons, all under the guidance of head coach Barrett Kropf.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited for Spartan hockey to see both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams make the jump to the top level of university hockey in the country,鈥� Kropf said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a goal of ours for quite a while, so we鈥檙e really excited for the opportunity and very thankful that the other Canada West members felt there was a need for continued growth and opportunities for top junior players to pursue being student- athletes.鈥�