Dinos football, women’s rugby, and women’s and men’s soccer teams in action this weekend as more clubs start their Canada West seasons.

**Calgary Dinos Kick Off Canada West Campaign Across Multiple Sports**

*Calgary, Alta., Sept. 4, 2026* – The University of Calgary’s athletic teams began their Canada West seasons this weekend, with the Dinos football, women’s rugby, and both women’s and men’s soccer squads taking the field in a series of opening‑weekend matchups.

**Football**

The Dinos opened their Canada West football schedule at McMahon Stadium on Friday at 5:30 p.m., hosting the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the KICKOFF XIX event. Calgary entered the season ranked fourth in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, while the Thunderbirds were placed third.

The team comes off a 39‑24 exhibition victory over the Regina Rams on Aug. 23 in Medicine Hat. Head coach Ryan Sheahan, now in his third year, highlighted the return of veteran receiver Matt Sibley and linebacker Osasere Odemwingie, both slated for their final season with the Dinos after being selected in this year’s CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders, respectively. Quarterback David Jordan, a sophomore, returned after completing a CFL Quarterback Internship Program during the offseason.

*Player to watch:* Matt Sibley, who impressed at the CFL Combine and spent the summer training with the Stampeders’ receiving corps, including former Dinos star Jalen Philpot.

**Women’s Rugby**

Calgary’s women’s rugby team opened its Canada West campaign on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, also at McMahon Stadium. Long‑time head coach Simon Chi led the squad into his 17th season. The roster features several newcomers, notably Austyn and Kayel LaBelle, joining their sisters and cousin Kiera Andasol Dubyk. The five LaBelle family members are believed to constitute the first U Sports roster with that many relatives.

*Player to watch:* Kenzie McEachern‑Shields, who led the Dinos with three tries last season and returned after a second consecutive summer playing for the Hunter Wildfires in Australia.

**Women’s Soccer**

Ranked third in the Canada West preseason coaches’ poll, the women’s soccer team began regular‑season play with back‑to‑back matches against the host Manitoba Bisons on Friday and Saturday, both slated for 6 p.m. Mountain Time in Winnipeg. Head coach Diogo Raposo’s side concluded the 2025 season with a 3‑0 bronze‑medal win over crosstown rival Mount Royal.

The Dinos entered the season after a five‑match preseason slate that included a 1‑0 victory over UBC Okanagan and a scoreless draw with Simon Fraser.

*Player to watch:* Mykena Walker, a Canada West Prairie Division All‑Star in 2025 who anchored a defense that allowed only five goals all season. Walker also contributed nine goals for Calgary Blizzard SC in the Alberta Premier League this summer.

**Men’s Soccer**

The men’s soccer squad opened its campaign with a 2‑0 win over defending Canada West champions Mount Royal on Friday, drawing nearly 1,800 spectators to McMahon Stadium. Goals came from Luis Rangel‑Kataev and a bicycle‑kick finish by Jacob Hunter. The Dinos will travel to Edmonton for matches against the Alberta Golden Bears (Saturday, 2:15 p.m.) and MacEwan University (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.). The Golden Bears concluded their own preseason with a 2‑1 win over the Griffins.

*Player to watch:* Jacob Hunter, who scored the highlight‑reel bicycle kick against Mount Royal and assisted the second goal. Hunter returns for his final season after missing most of 2025 with injury.

These opening contests mark the start of a busy weekend for Calgary’s Dinos as they aim to build on previous successes across multiple sports in the Canada West conference.

Article and image source: calgaryherald.com