WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Bisons football team will play their first pre-season tilt on Vancouver Island this summer.
The Bisons will play the defending CIS champion UBC Thunderbirds on Friday, August 26.
It’s the first time a CIS football game has ever been held on Vancouver Island at Westhills Stadium in Langford, B.C.
“This will be a unique experience. The game is magnified as we thank UBC for the invitation to be part of this historic game and compete against the defending CIS champion,” said Bison football head coach Brian Dobie.
Dobie added Vancouver Island, and in particularly Victoria, has been the most productive area of recruiting for Bison Football on a national level for the past two decades.
“We are hopeful there will be a huge group of Bison alumni able to attend the game to watch two of the top teams in the country and support the Bisons.”
The Bisons start training camp two weeks earlier than the pre-season game, which is their only one before the 2016 Canada West conference regular season begins.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT.
On Wednesday, the Bisons announced the recruitment of eight Manitoban high school student-athletes for the 2016season. Offensive lineman Matt Kaneski, quarterback Colby Kyliuk, running back Somto Anyadike, receivers Liam Grace and Conor Nedelec, defensive lineman Bojan Stevanovic, and defensive backs Keenan Onyebuchi and Marcel Arruda Welsh.
The Canada West 2016 regular season schedule will be announced in mid-April.
