LETHBRIDGE – As the Pronghorns gear up for the new season, there's an undeniable sense of unfinished business in the air. Last year's journey came to a halt in the Canada West quarterfinals against the University of Victoria Vikes, a game that fueled the team's determination to push further this season. Heading into a new campaign, they're looking to rewrite that ending.
 
In the coaches poll, the Pronghorns find themselves ranked 12th—a position that some might see as a setback, but for this team, it's nothing short of motivation. They open their campaign with a tough challenge: taking on the reigning Canada West Champions. But the Pronghorns are no strangers to adversity and they're ready to upset the rankings.
 
First-year head coach Vikram Virk, though new to the helm, exudes a calm confidence that has already resonated with the team. "An important part for us this season is having a core group together from last year," Virk reflects. "We have twenty-three members returning from the previous year, so it definitely helps where the team is tight-knit and already shares common experiences. This allows us to continue to build off the work they have put in previous years. It is a group that has had a taste of success qualifying for the playoffs, and hopefully, that experience continues to make them stronger and keep pushing for the next step."
 
Virk is joined by a strong team of assistant coaches, including Pronghorn alumni Danilo Morales and Noah French, as well as Thomas Ang, each bringing valuable experience and a deep connection to the program.
 
The familiarity among the returning players is bolstered by the excitement surrounding the new recruits. "All six new recruits have been excellent so far and we are really excited about our incoming rookie class," Virk shares. "All are good footballers and people, so their integration within the team has been very smooth. Some cool moments as well personally for them; we have two local players in Brandon Francis and Brady Indzeoski coming into the group, Carson Moore who has family who are University of Lethbridge alumni, Noah Bilodeau who joins his brother here now after a strong season at The King's University in Edmonton, AB, and Alex Loturi and Kyle Boell who are coming from very good footballing backgrounds. They all add quality in different areas of the pitch for us and we are very excited to have them on board."
 
The team's spirit is palpable as they prepare for the season opener. "I think all players would tell you the same, we are all eager and hungry for the first game to come," Virk says. "As competitors, you want to play in meaningful games, and we look forward to competing week in and week out to try and push for our targets this season. Personally, moments like our first home game and the Horns Triple Header are always moments to look forward to. Overall, we just want to try and keep pushing to make the next step and continue the development of the program."
 
This season, the Pronghorns are ready to prove themselves on the pitch, starting with a challenging opening weekend against their Southern Alberta rivals. They'll face off against MRU Cougars at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, followed by a matchup with the University of Calgary Dinos at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 25. Catch all the action live on canadawest.tv.