HEADING TO THE HAT:

For the second consecutive year the University of Calgary Dinos will play a pre-season game in the Gas City at the Methanex Bowl on Thursday, August 25 at 6:30 PM against the University of Regina Rams.

For a trio of Dinos the game will be a home coming. Fullback Anthony Anderson and defensive end Connor McGough are veterans with the Dinos and are looking forward to heading back to where they played their High School football. For freshman offensive lineman Kirkland Lawrence it will be a new experience.

“It is always nice to go back home to play,” states McGough who was 2014 Canada West all-star defensive lineman and is now in his fourth season with the club joining the Dinos from Crescent Heights.

For Anderson, who played his football at Medicine Hat High this game will be his final game for the Dinos in Medicine Hat as fullback and special team player is in his final year of eligibility with the Dinos.

Lawrence, a pure freshman from Quinn Skelton’s program at Medicine Hat High it marks the first time he will be dressed in a Dino uniform.

“I am excited having my parents, family and friends see the game,” Lawrence states who witnessed the game last year in the stands with members of his High School team when the two clubs played in late August.

Calgary Head Coach is excited about playing the pre-season game in Medicine Hat.

“We have been practicing since August 13. The guys are excited to line up against someone other than our own players,” states second year Head Coach Wayne Harris. “The Methanex Bowl is an excellent venue and it is an opportunity to showcase CIS football to the people from the Medicine Hat area.

Both teams are expected to dress and play all players that are eligible and healthy as it is the only preseason game for the both clubs.

TWO FORMER DINOS HAVING SUCCESS IN NFL PRE SEASON:

A pair of former University of Calgary football players remain in training camps for National Football League teams.  Defensive back Elie Bouka and wide receiver Rashaun Simonise each participated in their respective team’s first pre-season games in Week 1 of NFL pre-season action.

Bouka missed all of last season with the Dinos due to an Achilles injury, but impressed enough in a free agent camp to be signed by the National Football Conference finalist Arizona Cardinals. Simonise, who was a CIS first team all-Canadian last year and Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2013 was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals in mid July just prior to the commencement of training camp.

Bouka, attend the Cardinals mini-camp in the off-season and spent the bulk of the summer rehabbing and working out in Phoenix. He suffered a hamstring injury early in training camp but dressed for the Cardinals first pre-season contest against the Oakland Raiders playing on some special teams, including a very impressive forced fumble on punt coverage.

Simonise caught a 47-yard pass and run play against the Minnesota Vikings in the Bengals initial pre-season game.

Both Bouka and Simonise are expected to dress for their respective teams second pre-season contests in Week 2 of pre-season competition. The Cardinals are in San Diego against the Chargers who they have had joint practices with this past week while the Bengals are in Detroit against the Lions.

DINOS RECEIVE COMMITMENT FROM OUTSTANDING KICKING PROSPECT:

With the Johnny Mark era of kicking and punting over, the University of Calgary hopes they have found his replacement.

Head Coach Wayne Harris confirmed that Niko Difonte has signed a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Letter of Intent to attend the University of Calgary this coming fall. Like Mark, who was a five time Canada West Conference all-star and four time CIS all-Canadian, Difonte joins the Dinos directly from High School.

“Niko was one of the top graduating kickers and punters in the country. We hope he can develop into a strong kicker and punter like Johnny Mark was,” states Harris of the graduate of Winnipeg Oak Park High School.

“I watched video of Johnny (Mark) and he was very good. I hope to follow in his shoes at the University of Calgary,” states Difonte who was recruited by numerous CIS schools including Carleton, St. Francis Xavier, York and Manitoba as well as NCAA Simon Fraser University.

“Calgary has a serious football program and it is a great city,” stated Difonte of his decision to attend the University of Calgary.

In addition to playing football at Oak Park Nico competed in soccer at Oak Park High School. One of his coaches at Oak Park was former University of Calgary defensive back Ty Noble and his head coach was Stuart Nixon.

Nico, is the son of Mike and Bernedette Difonte.