HARD NOSED BIG MAN JOINS DINOS OFFENSIVE LINE:

The University of Calgary football Dinos continue to add players for the 2018 season with the signing of Daniel Stefanyk to a U Sports Letter of Intent.

A 6’4”, 315 lbs. offensive lineman Daniel is completing his senior season at Henry Wise Wood High School in Calgary playing for Coach Cody Ehrman earning all-star recognition as a Grade 11 and Grade 12.  

Stefanyk was chosen for the Canadian U18 team that will compete in Dallas, Texas in January 2018 for the International bowl. This past summer in Nova Scotia, Daniel was a starter for the Alberta U18 team.

“I feel Calgary is the best fit for me. It is an amazing school and I like the environment present with the Dinos. I also have many friends here,” stated Stefanyk who was recruited by Concordia as well as the University of Toronto but made no official visits.

Daniel is a product of the Stampeders football organization where we played both bantam and pee wee football before joining Wise Wood.

“Daniel is a very hard working big man. He plays guard with physicality. We have known him since he was been impressive at our various summer camps,” states Head Coach Wayne Harris.

In addition to play football Daniel played rugby and also played hockey while growing up.

Daniel is undecided what academic path to follow, so he will enter in the faculty of Arts,

OUTSTANDING SASKATOON QUARTERBACK TO BE A DINO:

Matthew Wilson is proud to be the first ever player from a Saskatoon High School football to come directly from High School to the Dinos football program. Head Coach Wayne Harris confirmed the 6’1”, 180 lbs. quarterback will enroll at the University of Calgary in September 2018 signing a USports Letter of Intent.

Wilson comes from the outstanding Holy Cross Crusaders football program coached by Scott Hundseth who were Saskatoon Finalists in 2017. He was the backup quarterback on last year’s team that were Provincial Finalists losing to Regina Leboldus but saw action in the Championship game throwing two touchdown passes.

“If I can be a trailblazer for others, it is very humbling,” stated Wilson who was impressed the minute he got out of the car on his visit with his parents.

Matt brings a wealth of experience at various levels of Saskatchewan Provincial team involvement with him. He was at the Canada Cup in 2016 and 2017 helping Saskatchewan bring home silver medals and quarterbacked the Saskatchewan U17 team at the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas in 2017. He had misfortune of breaking his collar bone on the second play of the game at this year’s Canada Cup in Nova Scotia.

Wilson is a dual threat quarterback, having a strong arm and is an excellent runner. An excellent athlete Matt is a three time Saskatoon High School champion javelin thrower and also played competitive basketball before electing to concentrate on football.  

“Matt is a tremendous athlete. He has excellent arm strength and makes plays with his feet. I think he has the right skill set and mind set to excel at the U Sports level,” states Dinos offensive coordinator Ryan Sheahan.

The Dinos won the recruiting battle over the Universities of Alberta and Saskatchewan whom he visited in the recruitment process. Matt also had talks with Concordia and Guelph but wished to play at the next level in Canada West.  

“I wanted to leave home and to go university. I saw the professional attitude with the Calgary program and it is family orientated. I came from a winning program at Holy Cross and am going to a winning program. Calgary is the fit for me,” stated Wilson who is fluent in English and French and is one of six kids in the family.

Matt’s parents are former post secondary athletes. His father, Tim, competed in cross country at the University of Manitoba, and his mother, Paulette, was a javelin thrower at the University of Saskatchewan.

Matt attributes his football development to his High School Scott Hundseth, his bantam coach Chris Lemke, and Brian Guebert from Football Sask.

Wilson will enroll in Sociology courses with the hope eventually going to Law School.

OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN COMMITS TO THE DINOS:

The University of Calgary football Dinos are thankful Nic Auvigne enjoys the outdoor lifestyle that is prevalent around the Calgary area.

An avid outdoorsman, the 6’2”, 260 lbs. Auvigne has a passion for big game hunting and fishing. This love of nature will fit in very well with many of the veterans on the current Dinos roster.

“My home is Alberta. I love Alberta and did not have any desire to leave home. I love the outdoor life and have players on the Dinos I am familiar with,” stated the 17 year old Auvigne, who is undecided which courses he will pursue at the University of Calgary.

Nic had a stellar youth football career in the Cowboys organization playing atom, pee wee, bantam and midget in their system under well respected coaches that included Tony Spoletini, Al Cooper and Phil Collins. With the Cowboys he won a pair Alberta Bantam Championships as well as anchoring the offensive line on the Cowboys Midget Calgary Championship teams the past two seasons earning Midget all-star honors in 2016 and 2017. 

Auvigne had the unique distinction of playing and starting senior High School football for three years at St. Francis, including his Grade 10 year. He was a member of the Browns Provincial 4A Championship teams in 2015 and 2016 and a member of their 2017 team that lost in the Provincial final in 2017. Nic played both ways in High School and was a two time Calgary High School all-star and was coached by Tyler Park.

Nic was approached by several U Sports schools having considerable interest from UBC and Ottawa before signing his U Sports Letter of Intent with Calgary.

Nic was a member of U16 Alberta team and also competed with the Bantam Bowl Selects in Lethbridge.

“Nic has great size and is very athletic. He is a very aggressive player and will be great fit on our young and strong offensive line. Nic committing keeps allows the connection between St. Francis and the Dino to continue,” states Offensive Coordinator Ryan Sheahan.

Nicolas is the son of Darryl and Marisa Auvigne.