CALGARY – Many members of the University of Calgary Dinos football team had a new experience Thursday.
For the third consecutive year, the Dinos held a practice in the picturesque Canadian Rockies at Millennium Park in Canmore, AB, 100 kilometres west of McMahon Stadium along the Trans-Canada Highway.
In addition to having a practice, the team had a picnic and a cool-down in Quarry Lake before heading back to Calgary.
Players who had never experienced the majestic Canadian Rockies were awestruck, and those who had the experience previously embraced the natural beauty of the area.
"One never gets tired of seeing the beauty of the area," stated
Vincent Paquette, who experienced the Canadian Rockies for the first time last year with the team and hails from Quebec.
Sophomore receiver
Zion Grant had similar feelings.
"This scenery is breathtaking, and I really enjoy it out here," stated Grant, who is from Pickering, ON, was Canada West Freshman of the Year, and saw the Canadian Rockies for the first time on last year's visit.
The Canmore experience benefits the team for a couple of reasons, according to Head Coach
Ryan Sheahan.
"Team building is a crucial part of training camp. We get some football work done and combine it with some fun at one of the most beautiful places in the country," stated Sheahan, whose team could not practice at McMahon Stadium due to the Canada West opening men's soccer game.
The Dinos were also honoured to have alumni Andrew Buckley, Gordon Elser and
Chris Pashula attend practice.
Buckley won the Hec Crighton as the Most Outstanding Player in U SPORTS twice, as well as numerous other awards, during his five-year career with the Dinos. He is currently a sports medicine doctor in Canmore.
Elser played four seasons with the Dinos in the early 1980s and earned conference sll-star recognition in 1980. He was a member of the 1983 Toronto Argonauts Grey Cup Championship team and was selected 11th overall in the 1981 Canadian Football League Draft.
Pashula, an offensive lineman, spent the past four years with the Dinos and is now with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL, who are on their bye week.
"It is always great to have legends from the past, and former players drop by and pass on some wisdom," stated Sheahan.
