Linebackers Charles Beach and Cole MacInnis, both recent high-school graduates from Calgary, have earned invitations to the 2026 Montana East West Shrine Game. The pair are also recruits for the University of Calgary Dinos football team.
Homegrown Talent Recognized
Homegrown talent has always been a hallmark of the Calgary Dinos football program. Now, two new recruits from the area are gaining international recognition on the gridiron. Charles Beach and Cole MacInnis are set to make names for themselves in the annual Montana East West Shrine Game before joining the Dinos for the upcoming U SPORTS season.
Dinos head coach Ryan Sheahan praised the 18-year-old linebackers, describing them as strong, smart, fast, and well-trained. Both come from good families with strong academic profiles. Sheahan emphasized their work ethic and winning mentality, noting that he has seen them compete in championship games at the city, provincial, and national levels. He believes the Dinos are getting two of the best players in the country this year.
International Showcase
The duo has also caught the attention of football forces outside Canada. Beach and MacInnis have accepted invites to the star-studded showcase of Montana high-school seniors, supported by the Greater Calgary Amateur Football Association and the Al Azhar Shriners of Southern Alberta. The game, which raises money and awareness for the Shriners Children's hospital in Spokane, Wash., takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. in Butte, Mont.
MacInnis, representing the Ernest Manning Griffins, called it a huge honor to be selected and to represent Calgary, Alberta, and Canada. He aims to demonstrate the quality of Calgary football against American competition. Beach, from St. Francis High School, echoed the sentiment, calling it a blessing to be involved in the Calgary football community and to continue the tradition of all-star players from his school participating in the game.
Linebacker Skills
Both players will line up as linebackers in the annual affair, which dates back to 1947. Beach, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 195 pounds, emphasized the need for knowledge, instinct, and speed at the position. He highlighted the importance of playing sideline-to-sideline and reading the offense's intentions. MacInnis shares these traits, and together they bring speed and agility to the field.
