Kodiaks eye strong start to season

Kodiaks Director of Communications Ethan Ready says preparation for the new season has been underway for months and the team is eager to get back on the field.

“Many of the guys we’re here have have been here since spring camp. I think we’re ready to compete. I think the guys are wanting to compete. And I think the coaching staff are preparing the guys to be competing this season,” Ready said.

The Kodiaks are looking to build on a 2025 campaign that resulted in a postseason appearance. While several players from that team have graduated and moved on to U SPORTS programs, Ready views those departures as a positive reflection of what the organization is trying to accomplish.

“I think obviously with how the off season went, we had a number of guys who graduated. They’re going off to U-Sport. That’s exactly what the program’s designed to be doing. So we we look at that as a win,” he said.

Ready noted that a number of players from last year’s roster are continuing their football careers at the university level, highlighting the development pathway that the Kodiaks aim to provide for athletes in northern British Columbia.

Although some key contributors have moved on, the team expects to remain competitive thanks to a strong returning core and several additions from outside the organization.

“There’s going to be a lot of talent on this team from last year. There’s a lot of talent that we brought in from from other junior teams across not just the BCFC, but also the PFC as well,” Ready said.

He added that the blend of returning experience and new recruits has created a roster with considerable leadership and veteran presence.

“There’s a lot of leadership on this team. There’s a lot of veteranship as well on this team to be putting this team into the playoffs,” Ready said.

The Kodiaks will also begin the season under head coach Bellamy, who is well known within Prince George’s football community. While there is a new coaching structure in place, Ready believes the transition should be seamless because of the experience and continuity throughout the staff.

“Anyone who knows Coach Bellamy knows he’s done so much for the football community in northern BC,” Ready said.

According to Ready, several coaches have been involved with the Kodiaks organization since its inception and many worked together on last year’s staff.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that the coaching staff are capable of not just coaching these guys, but coaching to a caliber that is comparable to that of other teams in the league,” he said.

With opening day now here, anticipation is growing throughout the organization. Ready compared the feeling ahead of the home opener to a holiday, with players, coaches and team staff all eager to see months of work finally pay off.

The Kodiaks will welcome a visiting team making the long trip from Vancouver Island, while Prince George hopes to capitalize on the energy of a home crowd.

“The players have been putting in so much work this offseason to get ready for this moment. We hope the community comes out and supports them and gives them a hometown crowd worth playing in front of,” Ready said.

With a playoff appearance already serving as a foundation and three straight home games to begin the schedule, the Kodiaks believe they are in a strong position to start the season on the right foot.

That journey begins Saturday, when Prince George takes the field looking to establish itself once again as a playoff contender in the BC Football Conference.

by Nick Dube

Kodiaks eye strong start to season

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