New Broncos head coach Braden VanKoughnett taking his players through strength and conditioning drills (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

KAMLOOPS BRONCOS

Broncos first junior football team across Canada to be holding organized team activities

Jul 17, 2020 | 5:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Broncos are back practicing — more like working out together, doing conditioning drills and speed work.

“It’s awesome. I love football, so anytime, any opportunity to get back out is great,” said offensive lineman Soren Munsen, a NorKam grad.

Fellow Kamloops native Travis Nickel added, “I’m just happy to run around, catch the jug machines, be with the boys.”

But it’s not your ordinary football practice.

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“Okay Chris, we’re going to check your temperature,” Broncos GM Jan Antons told receiver Chris Finden before practice on Thursday evening while holding a digital thermometer to his forehead. “36.3°C.”

Every day before the players enter the field, they get their temperatures taken. It’s all part of the team’s plan to return to the field safely.

“It’s pretty weird, but I like it,” noted Finden. “It’s taking every precaution we can to keep everyone safe. It’s all you can ask for.”

Broncos GM Jan Antons taking a temperature reading for recevier Chris Finden before Thursday night’s practice (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The Broncos are the first junior team in Canada to have organized team activities, even in this limited capacity. Antons was proactive in putting a plan together.

“I think it just showed that we were prepared for it,” said Antons. “I wrote a safety plan and worked with our provincial football association, which is the BCPFA (B.C. Provincial Football Association). I think it says a lot about our team and our safety procedures and that we always put safety first.”

New Broncos head coach Braden VanKoughnett is working the players, mainly locals, through drills safely. No pads. No contact.

It’s a strange feeling for many of them who would be in the midst of training camp in normal circumstances.

“It’s a little different with all the social distancing. You can’t give a hug to the teammates you haven’t seen or high-five them,” said Munsen. “Otherwise, just a bunch of conditioning. We can’t really do any contact yet. Just trying to get everyone in shape.”

The Broncos, who haven’t won a football game in more than two seasons, are preparing as if there will be a season.

“We’re really dependent on what the Government of B.C. decides, obviously, in regards to that maximum gathering size (50 people). Everything else we are sort of in the clear,” noted Antons.

Dr. Bonnie Henry has said numerous times the limit on gatherings of 50 people or more will be in place for a while. The restriction makes it difficult to stage a football game. The Broncos, for example, have 70 players on their roster.

“For practice we’re okay,” said Antons. “So if [Dr. Henry] says ‘it’s going to stay, but I’m going to remove it in October or something, we would potentially still play. If the decision is that it’s going to stay until the new year, then we can’t play.”

A final decision from BCFC will come on Aug. 5 If the season does proceed, Antons says it would be a September to December schedule.

“I hope there’s a season,” said Finden. “You like to think as positive as you can, but I don’t know what I’d do without a season, so I’m really hoping there is.”