It’s only year two, but it feels like a fresh beginning for the Prince George Kodiaks.
The team kicks off its BC Football Conference regular season Saturday night at 7 pm from Masich Place Stadium against the Canadian Bowl Champion Okanagan Sun.
Head Coach Jamie Boreham told MyPGNow.com it’s an early litmus test to gauge how much progress has been made over the off-season.
“It’s a great opportunity for our guys to see exactly where we are at. We have come a long way since last year and there is no better than to start with this measuring stick of the national champs.”
“We are happy with where we are right now but the growth we are going to have over these next weeks is going to be drastic and we are looking forward to what is going to happen on Saturday and what we are going to be in the future.”
Boreham is part of a re-vamped coaching staff and roster overhaul that occurred in the off-season.
The Kodiaks finished 1-9 in their inaugural season, which led to Keon Raymond not returning as head coach.
Boreham is no stranger to the BC Football Conference having coached the Okanagan Sun for three seasons (2019-2021).
Two years ago, he was named the BC Football Conference coach of the year, when the Sun reached the Canadian Bowl championship game.
The 45-year-old resigned from his position with the Kelowna-based team in March of last year to devote more time to his family.
When asked if the season opener had a little more meaning added to it, Boreham didn’t give in to the opportunity of posting any “bulletin board” material.
“It’s just a great week and the bigger the opponent, the better the opportunity. It’s a long season – we have 10 games, five at home, five away, and with the coaches and players being so new we have a long ways to go to be the team we are going to be.”
As a former player, Boreham is not unfamiliar with big moments spending eight years in the CFL.
The pinnacle of his career came in 2007 when he earned a Grey Cup ring with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Other stops in his career included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Toronto Argonauts.
Collegiately, he attended UBC, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Manitoba.
Since January, Boreham has been in constant contact with the Kodiaks’ players to the tune of four to five times per week.
He stated during the off-season, it’s been the homegrown talent that has taken ownership of the franchise heading into the season.
“It really is the local kids and the kids who are here going to school and who stayed here and worked they are setting up the foundation and culture this team is going to exist on for a very long time.”
On offense, the Kodiaks have a new-look interior line that Boreham believes will be more fleet of foot along with some added weapons at receiver and running back.
“I think we improved the athletism of our offensive line – our ability to move, block and work together as a unit is going to play to our strengths we hope.”
“We love our receivers, we have a six-foot-seven kid who is returning to his family here in Prince George in Kayle Cowley (via transfer from Langley Rams), we have Kaden Wagner who has played for me before and we have a slew of Prince George receivers that are here and working hard. Jerome Erickson and Evan Ingram, we have lots of guys who are capable of being on the field.”
The rushing attack is expected to be split between Xander Shane and Omari Martin.
The quarterbacks currently on the Kodiaks roster include Aidan Hemsing, Sam Sabine (starter), Quinn Neukomm, and Andrew Johnson.
On the defensive side of the ball, Boreham noted a trio of returnees will be the main focal points.
“Colter Cannon, he is our free safety, Hayden Matheson is a local kid from Prince George out of College Heights – he played defensive back as well. On the defensive line, Jason Kragt returns, he is from Hixon. Those are three defenders we will see a lot of.”
“We have a secondary that we believe is going to be quite strong. On our corners, we have Aidan Simpson and Shandon Donovan. It’s going to be interesting to see how everything comes together.”
A full schedule for the Kodiaks season can be found here:
- July 29th vs Okanagan Sun – 7 pm Masich Place Stadium
- August 12th vs Westshore Rebels – 7 pm Masich Place Stadium
- August 19th vs Kamloops Broncos – 7 pm Masich Place Stadium
- August 26th at Vancouver Island Raiders – NDSS Field (Nanaimo)
- September 9th at Langley Rams – McLeod Stadium
- September 16 vs Langley Rams – 7 pm Masich Place Stadium
- September 23rd at Valley Huskers – Exhibition Stadium (Chilliwack)
- September 30th vs Okanagan Sun – 7 pm Masich Place Stadium
- October 7th at Okanagan Sun – Apple Bowl
- October 14th at Kamloops Broncos – Hillside Stadium
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