MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HIS FIRST CANADA WEST GAME

Receiver Matt Sibley had mixed emotions after his first Canada West football game against the University of Regina Rams. The first-year receiver caught two second half touchdown passes of 44 and 10 yards from quarterback Daniel Sananes as the Dinos valiant comeback against the Rams fell short in a 36-28 loss.

“It was an amazing experience to play in my first Conference game. It was great to get two touchdown passes but we did not win,” stated the 19-year-old Sibley who missed the first regular season Canada West game due to a lower body injury.

The 6’, 187 lbs. Sibley graduated from Ernest Manning High School in Calgary in 2021 after playing youth football with the Wildcats, Bulldogs, and Falcons organizations of the Calgary Minor Football Association.

Sibley took a year away for academics in 2021 choosing to suit up for the Okanagan Sun of the British Columbia Football Conference in Kelowna, B.C., choosing to play with close friends he had with the Sun. He also felt he needed to take a year away from academics.

“I was not ready to go to school and wanted to get good football film,” Sibley stated who is close friends with fellow Dino receiver Ben Britton, whose brother Dan was the quarterback with the Sun last year.

Sibley notes the pace and overall speed of the game is faster than he experienced in Junior football but is making the adjustment at receiver and on special teams. “The speed is the closest to professional one can get,” stated Sibley about Canada West football competition who recorded three receptions for 50 yards in his second league contest at home against the University of Alberta.

Offensive Coordinator Jabari Arthur has seen vast improvement from Sibley. “Matt is a dynamic athlete who does a lot of things for us on special teams and offense. He has been on an upward trend since day one and has got better each day,” Arthur stated.

A native Calgarian and lifelong Calgary Stampeders fan, Matt is thrilled to be able to practice in McMahon Stadium and play home games in the Stadium where he grew up. “I have been going to Stampeders games longer than I can remember and it is a dream come true to play and practice here,” stated Sibley who is taking Arts courses with the goal of eventually becoming an architect.

Matt hopes to continue to haul in receptions Saturday afternoon when the Dinos travel to Manitoba to face the Bisons at 1 PM CST in Winnipeg.