Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – The moment has arrived for Brad Poplawski's standout recruiting class: their first Canada West regular season weekend is upon them.

Energized by an injection of six rookies, the new-look Griffins open the season on the road at Thompson Rivers University on Friday (8:45 p.m. MT) and on Saturday (7:45 p.m. MT, both matches on Canada West TV).

"It's been exciting having so many new guys come in with such a high level," said Poplawski. "Like anyone coming first year in Canada West, it's a learning curve, for sure. They experienced that a little bit in preseason. I think they all had moments where they looked really good and moments where they went 'oh, wow, this is a big jump.' "

Poplawski's rookie class, led by Team Alberta members Caleb Weiss (setter), Ryan Zachary (outside hitter) and Liam Huth (middle), are already pushing for playing time in the lineup.

"I like the competition for spots right now," he said. "Those guys have come in with the attitude that they want to play and they want to push to play. I like that all of them have really pushed our veterans to earn spots, which has been nice to see."

Jordan Krause (outside hitter), Garrett Corkery (libero) and Tyler Jodoin (outside hitter) round out the incoming class.

MacEwan lost starting setter Matt Mohler and outside hitter Ryan McDonald to graduation, while hard-hitting southpaw Lee Iverson and liberos Andre Arsenault and Kirk Testawich aren't back, although the latter is assisting the coaching staff this season.

That leaves some holes to fill, even if reigning Team MVP and kills leader Kai Hesthammer (OH) returns for his fourth season, while regulars Shane Kerrison (OH) and Kornel Kowalewski (M) head into their final university campaigns. Third-year middle Max Vriend, who has spent the past two summers with the national junior program, and second-year outside hitters Jordan Peters and Lucas Kristan give Poplawski plenty of lineup options. Third-year Matthew Linklater is transitioning to the libero position this season. Mark Alexander (M), Jonathan Mohler (S) and Jacob McIntyre (M) also return.

Poplawski has noticed a strong camaraderie between veterans and newcomers, even though they're all battling for playing time.

"The veterans have done a really good job as far as leadership, both on and off court of giving them good advice," he said. "I know they've pulled them aside to talk. Even before we started in August, (they passed on) just little things like school information and how to buy textbooks.

"I've been happy with that, especially the leadership of guys in the weight room. The veterans sat down and made workout schedules based off guys' school schedules, so that the vets could go with them and help them.

"I don't think they're looking at 'these guys are taking our spots,' " he continued. "I think they're looking at 'these guys are making us better.' As a coach, that's what you want."

That's important because the Griffins will need to gel quickly in order to challenge for a playoff spot in the toughest conference in Canada. Similar to last season, they'll be running a gauntlet of tough teams in the first semester.

"I'm guessing five of them will be nationally ranked," said Poplawski, whose toughest tests are expected to come against Canada West titans Alberta (Oct. 28-29), UBC (Nov. 24-25) and defending U Sports champion Trinity Western (Dec. 1-2).

The list could expand to eight nationally-ranked opponents by the time the season is over; the second semester's degree of difficulty is highlighted by matches against Mount Royal (Jan. 19-20) and Calgary (Feb. 9-10).

MacEwan's home opener will be against cross-town rival Alberta – the defending national silver medallists – on Oct. 28 (6:30 p.m., Atkinson Gym).

But first up is TRU, a team the Griffins swept last season and finished above in the standings. Poplawski cautions they're much improved, though, so his young squad will get a giant test right off the hop.

Whether the Griffins can make some noise this season and improve upon a 4-20 record they had last season remains to be seen.

"It's tough to say with a young group," said Poplawski on how they might do this season. "I obviously don't want to limit them, but it is a process. We obviously want to win and succeed that way, but we have to keep getting better because we're looking at this as a long-term project this year and not just one and done.

"Right now, their focus should be 100 per cent on the Thompson Rivers weekend," he added of his players. "From my perspective, we're focused on that but also long-term, so it's kind of a balancing act that way.

"I think all of us are just really excited to play this weekend. You can tell the mood in practice has been pretty good this week and guys are really excited. Their energy level's where it should be heading into the first weekend."