HEADING BACK TO WHERE HIS FOOTBALL CAREER STARTED AND HOPING TO SPREAD THE CULTURE OF THE GAME

Senior defensive lineman Josh Hyer is enthusiastic to spread the football culture to the youth of Vernon, B.C. and surrounding area. He will have that chance when the University of Calgary Dinos play the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in his hometown on August 24 in the Kalamalka Bowl sponsored by Kal Tire. Game time is 7 PM at Greater Vernon Athletic Park.

“I am really keen to be play a game in Vernon, but more excited for the young football players there. When I was a kid, I was thrilled to see the Okanagan Sun Juniors play in Kelowna, now these young kids will see a U Sports football game live and be introduced to this (U Sports) level of football,” stated Hyer.

Another reason Hyer is happy to be heading Vernon, is he will be going home, albeit briefly, having spent all summer working in Northern British Columbia on the Gateway Coast Gas Link pipeline project. “I had only five days off the entire summer but it (the trip) will be a short,” Hyer stated.

Hyer deferred his draft year by a year is hoping for a solid senior season, and is draft eligible in 2023. It was a decision he thought through. “I knew coming back for an eight-game season would not hurt me to develop more. A six-game season was not what I was looking for in my senior season,” stated fourth year Communications student.

After playing just a game as a pure freshman in 2017, Josh has become a fixture on the defensive line and will be counted on to supply leadership on a young team that has only safety Matt Lucyshyn and defensive back Jacob Biggs as remaining starters from the 2019 Vanier Cup Championship team.

Hyer followed former Vernon Secondary School teammate Carson Labrecque to Calgary and other than Labrecque, knew no one.

“Football has gone full circle for me. I was very shy when I first came here (Calgary), but I got to practice against great players that are now in the Canadian Football League, got more confident, and now am in a position to become more vocal,” Hyer stated.

When he joined the Dinos the furthest East he ever was to see relatives in Saskatchewan. He now has seen other parts of Canada playing in Manitoba, Quebec City where the Dinos captured the National Championship, and in June participated in the CFL East-West Futures game in Hamilton, ON.

Winning the Vanier Cup game remains a highlight for the 6’3”, 265 lbs. Hyer who was on the field for the final defensive series in the team’s 27-13 triumph over the University of Montreal Carabins.

“I will still get goose bumps when thinking of winning the National Championship. We (the 2019 guys) will have that bond together for the rest of lives,” he stated.

The Dinos will continue two a day practices at McMahon Stadium until departing for Vernon on Tuesday morning.