Calgary Dinos Kick Off Football Season with Exciting Celebrations

The University of Calgary’s annual Kickoff celebration is set to take place on September 1, 2023, as the Calgary Dinos football team prepares to face the defending Hardy Cup champions, the Regina Rams. The day’s festivities will begin with an orientation tailgate outside McMahon Stadium at 15:30, leading up to the highly anticipated game scheduled for 17:30.

As head coach Ryan Sheahan enters his second season with the Dinos, he expresses enthusiasm about the team’s prospects. The Dinos boast a formidable defense that returns nearly all of its starters from last season, a unit recognized as one of the best in the country. On the offensive side, while several new players are set to join, returning star Matthieu Clarke, the top rusher for the past two seasons, is expected to play a critical role in the team’s strategy.

The excitement extends beyond football this weekend, as the Dinos women’s rugby 15s team also begins its season. They will host the University of Alberta on September 2, 2023, at 17:00 in McMahon Stadium. Last season ended dramatically for the Dinos, as a last-minute goal-line stand by Lethbridge prevented them from scoring in the bronze-medal game at the Canada West Final Four. Coach Simon Chi, now in his 16th season, is optimistic about the team’s chances, drawing on the momentum from a strong 7s season in the spring.

The Dinos have a busy schedule ahead, as they will travel for two matches in different provinces following their home opener. They face Lethbridge on September 1, 2023, at 19:00, and then a doubleheader with the women’s team against Saskatchewan in Saskatoon on September 3, 2023.

In men’s soccer, fourth-year forward Owen Antoniuk made headlines after scoring all four goals in a recent 4-1 victory over MacEwan. His impressive performance continued as he found the net again against Alberta, earning him the title of Canada West Men’s Soccer Player of the Week. Despite his individual success, the Dinos faced a tough 2-1 loss against Lethbridge, marked by a penalty kick awarded in the final moments of the match.

The men’s soccer team is gearing up for their first conference games of the year with a pair of contests in Saskatchewan. They will kick off their regular season on September 2, 2023, in Regina before heading to Saskatoon for a game following the men’s match.

The Dinos women’s soccer team also has high hopes this season, returning nearly all starters from last year’s squad that posted an impressive 11-2-1 conference record, narrowly missing out on a national championship berth. Under the guidance of head coach Diogo Raposo, who has a commendable record of 28-7-7 in conference play, the Dinos were ranked second in the Canada West preseason coaches poll, receiving one first-place vote among the 15 teams in the league.

As the Calgary Dinos embark on this exciting season, the community is ready to rally behind the teams, celebrating tradition, sportsmanship, and the thrill of competition.