The inaugurral Kal Bowl saw the UBC Thunderbirds defeat the University of Calgary Dinos 28-7 at Greater Vernon Athletics Park (phot by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

1,800 fans

Thunderbirds uncaged in inaugural and successful Kal Bowl

Aug 25, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The inaugural Kalamalka Bowl is being hailed as a success as the Thunderbirds took down the Dinos before a large crowd.

The University of B.C. outscored the University of Calgary 28-7 in the exhibition game at the Greater Vernon Athletics Park on Wednesday (Aug. 24).

The UBC Thunderbirds met the University of Calgary Dinos on the gridiron at Greater Vernon Athletics Park for the inaugural Kal Bowl (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters

The UBC Thunderbirds defeated the University of Calgary Dinos 28-7 at the inaugural Kal Bowl at Greater Vernon Athletics Park Aug. 24 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

29m ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

The T-Birds scored three touchdowns, a field goal and two safeties in their win, while the Dinos notched two safeties and a field goal.

UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu earned MVP at the Kal Bowl, and Dinos receiver and former VSS Panther Liam Reid earned the Okanagan MVP title in the game.

The Kal Bowl was presented to the UBC Thunderbirds, who defeated the Calgary Dinos at the inaugural event 28-7 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

UBC Offensive Lineman Giovanni Manu earned MVP at the Kal Bowl (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Dinos receiver and former VSS Panther, Liam Reid, was named Okanagan MVP at the Kal Bowl (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

The event has been deemed a success by Kal Bowl Society President, Sean Smith, who told Vernon Matters that they had a great turnout for the exhibition game.

“I think [the event] went great. I think our expectation was to put on an event for the community. We had a really great turnout, we were sold out,” Smith told Vernon Matters following the game.

“I haven’t done a final tally [on attendance] because we had walk-ups, but I think it was about 1,800 people.”

People filled the bleachers, sat on the hill on the west side, and set up spots on the east side of the field to watch the inaugural Kal Bowl (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Approximately 1,800 people bought tickets in advance for the inaugural Kal Bowl, with standing-room tickets also being sold at the gates (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

People brought camping chairs and blankets to sit along the east side of the field for the inaugural Kal Bowl (photo by Liam Verster)

Phot by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters

Among those in attendance at the game were B.C. Lions alumni wide receiver Jim Young and tight end Lynn “Lefty” Hendrickson, both of whom now live in the Okanagan.

B.C. Lions alumni Lynn ‘Lefty” Hendrickson and Jim ‘Dirty 30’ Young (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

“I was watching [the players] very closely, they’re very well coached and play very well,” Young told Vernon Matters, adding he hopes the event is held every year moving forward.

“It’s been a huge success, obviously it’s been a sellout so that’s a heck of a way to start a new promotion.”

“I wasn’t sure [about the turnout] when they invited us to come, but I think right now it’s awesome. Everybody’s right behind everybody and they’ve got the whole sideline on the [east] side full. I think it’s fantastic, I think they’ve got to make this an annual [event] for sure,” said Lefty while speaking with Vernon Matters at the game, adding that the players were performing very well.

“First thing I look at is the lineman, defensive and offensive linemen. They’ve got some hunks out there and they’re blocking well. It’s too bad about the wind (which picked up just before halftime), it’s a little tough but the guys are still throwing well and the receivers are fast, very fast.”

While the game went well and the crowd was large, Smith did state that there were some hiccups in putting on the event.

“I think just little things like you don’t know at the time, like our speakers I thought would be good, but when you’ve got people [on the east side of the field] and way off the sides I think the sounds [couldn’t be heard]. So we need to get a better sound system,” said Smith.

“The disappointing part of this stadium is there’s no score clock. So we can’t do much about that, but that’s up to the community to put pressure on [municipalities] to do because the coaches both commented that we’re doing our best but they can’t see the score clock and they can’t see the time.”

Smith said the Kal Bowl Society will meet later and discuss how to approach the City of Vernon, District of Coldstream, Regional District of North Okanagan and other partners to improve the facility.

He also stated that this wasn’t a home game for either team, and while there was good representation of both T-Bird and Dino fans in the crowd, it didn’t have the same feel of playing a home game.

“So next year we’ll do a better job of trying to get the fans a little more involved.

The Kal Bowl Society hopes to run the event again in the future.

“Our plan is to continue as long as we can get some teams,” said Smith.

“I think our goal was to kind of put on a good show and do all the little things so that these coaches want to come back next year.”

He added that all the fun events leading up to the big game, like the youth training camps and meet-and-greet at Polson Park, showed that the market supports the event, and hopes it will help draw in other teams for future games.