CALGARY – After a two-year hiatus, the University of Calgary Dinos' KICKOFF event is finally back. 

The 15th installment of the annual event will take place on Friday, September 2nd at McMahon Stadium when the Dinos football team hosts the Saskatchewan Huskies. 

Since its inception, KICKOFF has seen over 71,000 fans come through the gate, as many get their first taste of Dinos athletics. This season, a new-look Dinos squad will try and take home a 13th straight KICKOFF victory when they take on a tough Huskies squad.

The Student Union Fun Zone, with all sorts of games and activities, will open at 3:30 p.m., while kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 

HEADLINES 

• After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006 in the abbreviated 2021 season, a motivated Dinos squad will be looking to get back to their winning ways when the 2022 season begins on Friday.
• The Dinos and Huskies faced off twice last season, splitting the season series with one win apiece. Calgary's victory over Saskatchewan in Week 1 of the 2021 season was the Huskies' only loss in Canada West play all year.
• Calgary will have their work cut out for them in their opener, as the Huskies are the 2021  Hardy Cup and Uteck Bowl champions. They were also just one win away from bringing a fourth Vanier Cup title to Saskatoon, falling just short against the Western Mustangs.
• The Huskies have been Calgary's opponent in two previous KICKOFF games, with the most recent being back in 2013 when the Dinos took home a 36-24 victory in front of over 5,000 fans.

Calgary Dinos (0-0)
Next week: at Regina

 

• The Dinos sport an incredibly young roster this season, with the majority of their players being in their first or second year of eligibility.
• After fifth-year quarterback Josiah Joseph graduated in the offseason, head coach Wayne Harris will hand the reigns behind centre over to second-year Matteo Spoletini. The new signal-caller appeared in three games last season, and also participated in the Canadian Quarterback Internship Program this offseason. 
• Spoletini will be looking to some fresh faces to catch the ball for him this season. After the departure of the dynamic Philpot brothers to the CFL, Spoletini will look to some new faces to haul in some passes, such as first-year Mikel-Ange Desjardins and second-year Dante Carbone.
• The new-look offence has big shoes to fill, as the Dinos led the Canada West in total offence last season, putting up 533.8 yards per game.
• While they are young, on the defensive side of the ball the Dinos do have some veterans they can lean on. 2021 Canada West All-Star Jacob Biggs will be back to work along side fifth-year defensive back Matthew Lucyshyn on the back end, with fourth-year defensive lineman Chimzy Tasie leading the way upfront.
• Next week the Dinos will head to Regina to take on the Rams 

No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies (0-0)
Next week: vs. UBC


 

• While the Dinos will have a new face behind the centre, the signal caller for the Huskies will be a familiar one for opposing defences, as fifth-year Mason Nyhus will once again lead the Huskies offence. A 2021 Canada West All-Star, Nyhus threw for 22 touchdowns on his way to leading Saskatchewan to a Vanier Cup berth.
• The quarterback remains the same, but the Huskies will be looking to replace a key part of their offence this season, as to the relief of Canada West defensive coordinators everywhere, running back Adam Machart will not be back with the squad in 2022. Machart was a 2019 First Team All-Canadian and also holds the Huskie record for rushing yards in a season with 1610.  
• Saskatchewan brought in a few key recruits this offseason, including defensive back Katley Joseph, who spent time south of the border with the University of Maine Black Bears program. 
• Special teams should be a strong part of the Huskies game this season, as they bring back first team All-Canadian punter David Solie this season. 
• The Huskies will return to Saskatoon next weekend for their home opener when they host the UBC Thunderbirds.