Vanier Cup rematch set for late August

Source: Ben Matchett, Calgary Assistant Athletic Director, Operations & Communications / Photo credit Benoit Lachance

CALGARY – The six-time defending Canada West champion University of Calgary Dinos are set for a Vanier Cup rematch to kick off their 2014 season.

The Dinos announced Tuesday that they will venture back to Quebec City for an exhibition contest against the Université Laval Rouge et Or the weekend of Aug. 29-30 at TELUS Stadium, site of last fall’s Vanier Cup. In an entertaining contest, the Rouge et Or captured the national title by a 25-14 score on Nov. 23.

It will be the second straight year the Dinos have faced Laval in an exhibition contest after opening the season in a similar fashion in 2013. It paid off as the Dinos cruised to their first-ever 8-0 regular season, a sixth straight Hardy Cup title, and a trip back to the Vanier Cup – and head coach Blake Nill expects the same advantage for his squad this upcoming summer.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to face the top team in the country prior to the start of our season once again,” said Nill, the reigning Canada West coach of the year who will patrol the Dinos sidelines for a ninth season this fall. “This is certainly advantageous for us as we prepare for the upcoming 2014 Canada West season. Not only will it give us a very good indication of where we are as a team, but it will provide motivation for our young men as they go through winter workouts.”

The 2014 Canada West football schedule will be announced in early April, with league play scheduled to begin the weekend following Labour Day.

The Dinos will return to the field at McMahon Stadium for their annual Spring Camp in early May. Fall camp will open in mid-August, two weeks prior to the first regular season game.