It’s going to be an emotional night at the Tournament Capital Centre in Kamloops, as the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team looks to close out its Canada West season with the return of a special guest.

Riley Brinnen, who survived the late November car crash that killed one of his teammates and severely injured another, will be back in Kamloops for the first time as the WolfPack play a pair of games against Mount Royal.

Brinnen – who is now confined to a wheelchair – concedes it’s going to be an emotional return, but he tells Radio NL he doesn’t want to hog the spotlight.

“It is not all about me,” Brinnen said. “There are three guys graduating as well as I don’t want to take away from that because they put in four or five years of their work and dedication, so its also a weekend for them celebrating that.”

TRU’s latest graduating also includes Sam Elgert, Corbin Ockerman, and Dylan VanSpankeren.

“Those three guys have done so much for me,” Brinnen said on NL Newsday.

“I lived with Sam Elgert. He was an awesome roommate, and we have a great time. He kept us in check and then Corbin and Spanky were my big brothers in my first year.”

Speaking on the NL Noon Report earlier this week, WolfPack Head Coach Pat Hennelly said Brinnen’s return to Kamloops will be inspiring.

“Life is about showing up and grinding and getting through, and that is what this last 10-and-a-half, 11 weeks have been,” Hennelly said. “It’s lets show up, lets try to use this moment together to enjoy it because we all know that this tragedy has shown that it can end at any time.”

“We’re just really focused showing our guys we are still fighting and showing up and doing our best.”

Hennelly also said he was grateful for the support from the Canada West sporting community, who have rallied around the WolfPack.

“What I tell other coaches is ‘hey, we want to play. The guys don’t want to be treated differently. Your guys can go after them and for the most part, I think that has been good,” Hennelly added. “It is good for the guys to be out there in a normal competitive environment fighting for something and focusing on the sport they love.”

“It’s always nice when you can go out in public for the first time and be around your teammates, kind of back where you belong,” Hennelly added, on Brinnen’s return to Kamloops.

On the court, the WolfPack men’s team still has an outside shot at making the Canada West volleyball playoffs.

They will need to win both games, and see the Manitoba Bisons drop both of theirs, which would see the two teams tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference.

The men take the court at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, immediately after the women’s games.

“We hope the people of Kamloops come out and help lift everyone up this weekend,” TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson told Radio NL.

– With files from Paul James and Jon Keen