U Sports has returned in full force after 2 years of pandemic cancellations

After a limited activity the past two years because of the pandemic, Canadian university sport is back to full season schedules for this school year with more than 12,000 student-athletes returning to competition. 

With fall sports underway and others starting soon, here are a few story lines to watch as teams strive to win their respective national championships. 

London, Ont. will host the Vanier Cup for the first time as U Sports' marquee event makes its way to the home of the eight-timewinners and defending champion Western Mustangs. 

"London is an outstanding sports community, and there's a strong football culture here, so with the city and the university backing it, it will be exciting," Western football head coach Greg Marshall told CBC Sports. "Laval has been a great host, and our planning can learn from their model, but it is nice that it moves around too."

Université Laval has hosted the Vanier Cup seven times since 2009, while 41 of its 56 previous editions have been in Toronto. 

WATCH | Western Mustangs win 2021 Vanier Cup in Quebec City:

The Mustangs have had a solid start to the OUA season with wins over the Guelph Gryphons, Laurier Golden Hawks and the Queen's Gaels. Still, despite the 3-0 start, there's lots of work to be done over their remaining five regular-season games. 

"We're a work in progress, we've got a good team, but there is still a lot of football to be played," he said. "We're excited about it. Last year was about getting back to the field, and this year we don't want to look too far down the road; we know what we have to do to get to the Vanier Cup." 

The UBC Thunderbirds could notch a few U Sports' records in their pursuit of a national championship after finishing fourth at the tournament