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While many players dread the long eight hour bus trek to Regina along the Trans-Canada Highway, University of Calgary defensive lineman Brett Wade is looking forward to playing in familiar surroundings. This week, Brett’s parents, who try and attend as many games as possible in Calgary will have a home game and not have to make the journey west to Calgary as the Dinos face the University of Regina in the Saskatchewan capital.

A third year nose guard on the defensive front for the Dinos, Wade has been a mainstay on the defensive line since joining the team from the Regina Prairie Thunder in 2013. Now in his third year as a starter, Wade is part of the defensive platoon inside along with Jack McEwen.

“Brett has been playing really well adjusting to playing lighter. He is quicker this season. If he was not facing constant double-teaming we would see a rise in sack totals,” states Defensive Line Coach Matthew Berry.

A 6’2”, 270 lbs, Brett is solid against the run and has had strong start to the 2015 season. Brett played football at Miller Collegiate in Regina before spending a couple seasons with the Prairie Thunder and was recruited by both the Universities of Regina and Saskatchewan.

Wade is excited about playing in front of familiar faces as the Dinos did not face the Rams due to the unbalanced schedule in Canada West. This marks just the second time Wade will be lining up against the Rams in Regina.

“It is nice to going home to play there in front of family and friends,” Wade said who expects to have about ten family and friends in attendance to see the contest. Wade also expects to have some of his fellow teammates from the Prairie Thunder in attendance at the contest.

Labrecque First to Join 2016 Recruiting Class:

The University of Calgary Dinos have signed their first recruit for the 2016 season on the weekend. They have received a commitment from Caron Labrecque, a Linebacker from Vernon Secondary School.

Head Coach Wayne Harris and recruiting coordinator Matt Berry confirmed linebacker Carson Labrecque from Oyama, BC has signed an LOI to attend the University of Calgary in 2016.

A 6’2”, 235 inside linebacker Labrecque, is considering one of the top linebacker prospects in the country for the 2016 recruiting class. He has been a member of the Vernon Secondary Panthers for the past four seasons playing for Head Coach Sean Smith. He was a Football British Columbia AA all-star in 2014 for the Panthers. He had the misfortune of injuring his knee this past spring while competing for Team BC All Canadian Gridiron Challenge in Kamloops. He is currently rehabbing his knee while completing his senior academic courses in Vernon.

Labrecque made his official recruiting visit to Calgary in early September. He indicated he planned on recruiting visits to McMaster University and the University of Manitoba, but decided over the weekend he would commit to the Dinos.

“I feel Calgary is a great fit for me in both football and academics and want to concentrate on school so I made the decision. They will have room at linebacker. I felt welcome during my visit and the program felt like family,” stated Labrecque. It is also close to home,” added Labrecque who will enrol in the Faculty of Kinesiology.

“Carson has been on our radar for a while. He is a big strong athletic linebacker. He fits our system well and we look forward to coaching him in the future,” states Harris.

Harris also paid tribute to the Panthers program. “Sean (Smith) runs a solid program at Vernon Secondary and does a great job with his athletes,” stated Harris.

Smith had high praise for Labrecque. "I am so happy that Carson is realizing his dream of playing football at the next level. His dedication to the game of football has been second to none in our program. He is so deserving of getting that chance with the University of Calgary. I think he's a perfect fit for their defensive scheme and I know he felt very comfortable with their coaching staff. Carson is not only a great football player, but he is also a great leader and I have no doubt that he will be a team captain for them before too long,” states Smith.

Labrecque was named Most Valuable Player at the Lawyer Malloy Camp in Tacoma this past year and earned top linebacker honours at Football U Camp in Phoenix. 

He is the son of Marcel and Dawn Labrecque.

WHITEOUT!!

For the first time in school history the University of Calgary football team will not be wearing their traditional red helmets on Thursday evening when they face their provincial rival University of Alberta Golden Bears at McMahon Stadium Thursday evening. Another first is that the Dinos are playing their first ever home game at McMahon Stadium on a Thursday evening.

Thanks to the support on anonymous donors recruited by the Dinos 5^th Quarter the Dinos will don white helmets with a red face mask. The move to white helmets was four years in the making.

The helmets will be used only for special occasions as deemed by the coaching staff and equipment manager Johnny Carr.

The helmets arrived during training camp and Carr has been busy putting on the new logo (Dinos paws) and fitting the players with the new head gear in addition to polishing them. The players practiced with the helmets on earlier this week to get used to the new equipment.

“We are extremely grateful to those that stepped forward to allow this to happen,” states Head Coach Wayne Harris