BANFF – The Banff Bears men’s rugby team, the 2022 Calgary Rugby Union champions, are rag-dolling competition this season and taking a perfect record into their home opener Saturday (June 17).
At 3-0, head coach Lee Garrett said the fantastic start is boosting confidence heading into the weekend; however, there is plenty of work to do to return to championship form.
“Hopefully, we’re not overconfident and we can just play our game and do what we want correctly,” said Garrett. “We’re still building at this point, so hopefully we can start working on our systems in these early games and work towards what we have to play against those bigger teams like Red Deer and Bow Valley (from Cochrane).”
Kick-off against the Calgary Canucks is 1 p.m. at Banff Recreation Grounds on Saturday.
Before the match, one-minute of silence will be held in memory of Ethan Enns-Goneau, a dearly loved local who was stabbed to death last summer in Banff.
The Bears have Enns-Goneau’s initials “EEG” stitched on the shorts of their new kits this season.
“It’s just a nice touch,” said Garrett. “He’s gone but not forgotten, for sure.”
In the season opener on May 27, the Bears strutted into Calgary and absolutely crushed the Saints, 82-7. The following weekend, the Bears defeated the Foothills Lions, 32-24.
Then last Saturday (June 10), the Bears were scheduled to face the Calgary Knights, but the opposing squad forfeited due to too many injuries.
