A WELCOME ADDITION FROM EASTERN CANADA TO DINOS FOOTBALL

Punter Chris MacLean wanted a change. The University of Calgary Dinos football team is thankful the change meant he was coming to Calgary. MacLean also wanted a kicking coach during the season, he got that with Dinos kicking coach J.T. Hay.

U Sports football is not new to the 23-year-old MacLean. MacLean spent three seasons as the punter and kicker with the University of Toronto Blues earning second team all-Conference honors in 2021.

MacLean played his first season with the Blues with former Dinos defensive back Patrick Pankow who was member of the team’s secondary on the Dinos 2019 Vanier Cup National Championship team.

“I heard Patrick (Pankow) really liked it here (Calgary), so I reached out to Calgary. I wanted to practice and play in a Canadian Football League Stadium and Canada West has three teams that play in CFL stadiums which helped me decide to come out West,” stated MacLean who was allowed to transfer by U Sports for compassionate and personal reasons thus not having to red shirt in 2022.

MacLean made his presence felt in the pre-season game in Vernon, B.C. and the Dinos home opener against the University of Saskatchewan with his strong leg. He averaged over 52 yards on nine punts including one inside the 20-yard line in his first Canada West regular season game.

Chris has high praise for Hay. “J.T. has been amazing. He helped me with my mechanics and has a calm demeanor. His name is on the Stampeders Wall of Fame for a reason,” stated the 6’3”, 200 lbs. MacLean who is from Brampton, ON. Chris attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School before enrolling at the U of T. A Political Science major at the U of C, he either aspires to enter the civil service or law school.

MacLean worked with legendary Canadian Football League kicker Hank Ilesic since he was 16 years old, but this year marks the first year Chris has had kicking coach during a season.

“Chris is very good. He listens well and soaks everything in. He is a very good athlete with a strong leg and very good technique and open to new ideas,” states Hay who played 11 seasons in the CFL. “I hope not to mess him up,” joked Hay.

MacLean got to experience Western Canada for the first time with the trek through the Canadian Rockies for the pre-season game and his trip to Calgary for his recruiting visit was his time in Alberta. Chris’s tour of Western Canada and CFL stadiums continues Friday (September 9) in Regina, SK., when the Dinos face the University of Regina Rams at Mosiac Stadium at 7 PM.