The Sundre Bison’s season does not officially start until early September, but the organization has already been busy recently raising funds, getting ready and building up interest.
“We’re trying to make more than a team,” said team manager and interim coach Logan Dichrow.
Offering off-season training activities such as conditioning camps as well as organizing fundraisers helps to further foster not only camaraderie among the players but also community spirit and engagement, Dichrow said.
“We’re doing what we can to help out the community and be involved.”
Additionally, getting together and working as a team off the field not only makes them play better on the field but also helps make them better students at school, she said.
Earlier in May, volunteers pitched in for the annual highway cleanup to raise funds, committing to a stretch of road along the municipality’s western boundary covering several kilometres of highways 27 and 22. A small training camp was held the following day, with the next one lined up next week from June 4-8.
So far, the squad has about 20 players, said Dichrow.
“Which is amazing,” she said.
“That makes two lineups.”
There were about as many players last year, and the football club aims to maintain that momentum, she said.
In past years, getting enough players to show up for games and practices was a struggle. But there were no such issues last year, and she wants to keep that up.
Official practices for the upcoming Mountain View 9 Man Football Conference start in early August, and the club is planning a welcome back barbecue behind Sundre High School near the end of July, she said, adding players can still register at that time as well as ask questions and learn more about the Bison.
Regular league games are scheduled to start on the first weekend in September following the Labour Day long weekend.
Although she currently lives in Calgary, Dichrow, a university student who has family roots in Sundre and recently finished her fifth year in education and history, hopes to become a high school teacher and sports coach as well as raise a family.
She calls striving to establish and maintain a relationship between sports and community a “personal passion,” and said that making available fun, safe as well as inclusive opportunities that provide a positive outlet for youth is “extremely important.”
However, following the resignation of former coach Tyson Dichrow, who faces several criminal charges stemming from a joint investigation between the RCMP and the Internet Child Exploitation unit, the Bison are still seeking a replacement.
“We are in desperate need of a head coach,” said Logan, adding she is for the time being filling in for the role.
Although she still has the time and dedication to do that even on top of her other duties as club president and manager, she candidly confessed not being as knowledgeable about the sport as would be ideal for a head coach.
“We’re looking for someone who is knowledgeable about football and works well with youth.”
Follow the Bison’s social media page for the latest updates and announcements, or contact Logan at 403-638-1814 for more information.
