Weekly Dino Digest: Sept. 26 to 28

By Maggie Hsu, September 26 2025—

With over 25 events on the schedule — and the potential for more — this week marks just the beginning of an action-packed fall for the Dinos. Between a full slate at McMahon Stadium and preseason action at Jack Simpson Gym, there’s no shortage of opportunities to cheer on the red and gold. Remember: all Dinos home games are free for students. Load up your all-access student pass, check out the master schedule, and grab some friends to catch the action.

Here’s what’s on deck this week in for your Calgary Dinos:  

Volleyball

The men’s volleyball team hosts their annual Dino Cup, welcoming programs from across Canada and one U.S. guest to Jack Simpson Gym for a marquee preseason tournament. Head coach Graham Vigrass enters his second season at the helm after a playoff appearance in 2024–25, where the Dinos were eliminated by the Alberta Golden Bears in the quarterfinals. With much of last year’s roster returning, the squad has the pieces to push for a deeper postseason run this year.

The women’s volleyball team heads west for the West Coast Classic, another tune-up before the Canada West season begins.

Basketball

Women’s basketball begins a new era under head coach Sarah Besselink, who makes her Dinos debut at the ‘Clash of the Clans’ Tournament hosted by the Nisga’a Nation in northern BC. The event offers an early look at how the team is shaping up under fresh leadership.

On the men’s side, the Dinos travel east for their own preseason swing in New Brunswick, sharpening their form ahead of the regular season against some of the top teams in Eastern Canada.

Soccer                                                                             

The women’s soccer team are finally returning home to McMahon Stadium hosting the Manitoba Bisons for a home-and-home series with their eyes set on extending their near perfect record beyond 7-0-1. After four games on the road, some familiar ground is much needed, particularly after their perfect record was left with its first tarnish following a tie with the MacEwan Griffins last week. Kickoff for both Friday and Saturday night are set for 7:00 p.m.

The men’s team are on their own quest as they head north up the QE2 to visit provincial rivals, Alberta Golden Bears and MacEwan Griffins. The Dinos are looking to extend their four-game winning streak that saw them burst on the scene, overpowering their opponents by a combined 16 goals to just four allowed. Their explosive efforts saw them return to the U SPORTS top-10 for the first time since 2016, finding their place at number nine this week.

Hockey                                           

Both Dinos hockey programs are looking to shake the cobwebs from their sticks as they set off on the road for a few preseason matchups.

The men’s team welcomes the UBC Thunderbirds to Father David Bauer for a quick exhibition series. Both teams fell short of the CanWest finals with Calgary ousted in the first round after a 0-2 series lost to the Alberta Golden Bears. On the other end of the ice, the Thunderbirds won the series 2-1 over the MacEwan Griffins before losing1-2 in the best-of-three series against the penultimate Canada West Champions and U SPORTS Bronze medalists, Saskatchewan Huskies.

The women’s squad make their way north as well to Red Deer for a quick exhibition match on Sunday against the Team Alberta U18 squad.

Field Hockey                                                                                                                  

The Dinos’ field hockey team travels to Victoria BC to visit the Vikes for a two-game away set. A program under rebuild with second-year head coach Jenn Beagan there’s a beacon of hope despite the team’s 0-4 record this season. The team continues to make strides as seen in their last home game that saw the Dinos shut out the defending national champions, Vikes in the second half.

Football                                                                 

Fresh off a heartbreaking loss to the UBC Thunderbirds last week, the Calgary Dinos return to McMahon Stadium to welcome the nationally ranked no. 5 Saskatchewan Huskies for a Saturday matinee. The young and feisty Dinos pushed the experienced Thunderbirds to a tight 22-23 final score but fouls and exits from some key players saw the Dinos fall just short of stealing the win from UBC.

With a 1 p.m. kickoff, the Dinos welcome alumni and students to celebrate 60 years of the program as they hope to muscle a win over the seemingly untouchable Huskies.                                                                 

Rugby   

The Dinos’ women’s rugby team are also up the QE2 in Edmonton for a match against the Alberta Pandas for their final road game of the season. Calgary is coming off a 22-19 loss against the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Despit the loss, there is praise to be given as the Dinos trailed 17-0 at the half but manated to put together a 19-point run in the second to push the Pronghorns on their heels.      

Golf

Last weekend saw a sweep of their home tournament that saw third-year Adam Reed and first-year Brooke Tombs take home the Canada West Athlete of the Week honours.

They now make their way up north like most of the teams this weekend to Edmonton for the U of A Invitational at Millwoods Golf Course as they build up to the Canada West Championships at the end of October.