Kamloops Broncos bullish on financial future, but hard yards remain to reach pay dirt

KAMLOOPS — Michelle Peters is confident she can lead the cash-strapped Kamloops Broncos to financial safety.

That’s why she took over the junior football club’s presidency in February.

“Because I wanted there to be a junior football team,” said Peters, noting the team came perilously close to folding last year. “I wanted there to be a team for my child to play on and 60 other guys to play on.

“I thought, ‘If I don’t step up, there isn’t going to be a team this year.’”

The B.C. Football Conference (BCFC) club issued a plea for financial help last fall, noting its fundraising goal of $200,000 and need for equipment and volunteers.

Peters told CFJC Today this past weekend that $150,000 will be enough to put the club into sound pecuniary standing.

Hard yards remain, with $10,000 raised thus far.

The Broncos are playing host to a fundraiser night on May 26 at Shark Club, with several B.C. Lions expected to be in attendance. The CFL club will host training camp from May 8 to May 31 at Hillside Stadium.

Financial insecurity does not appear to have quelled appetite to play for the Broncos, who have not qualified for the post-season since 2015.

Head coach Braden Vankoughnett said nearly 70 players participated in spring camp this past weekend, the best turnout in recent memory.

“I was definitely concerned about it,” Vankoughnett said of the state of the franchise last fall. “We weren’t in a situation where we could continue the 2024 season with the way it was. We didn’t have enough gear. Our helmets were all aging out.

“It was one of those things where we couldn’t have had a 2024 season if we didn’t have a new board step up, so very, very concerning.”

Vankoughnett noted 12 offensive linemen and five quarterbacks were in action at spring camp, good numbers at key positions.

Four Broncos earned invites to a recent B.C. Lions’ evaluation camp, including two Kamloopsians — receiver Colton Meikle and offensive lineman Rowen Munson — and receiver Kaleb Senz and defensive back Keagan Curtis.

“It really is an important thing for the community to give local players a chance to continue playing football,” Munson said. “It would just take opportunities away from people to further their careers, further their education and give them a chance to maybe go to university and play football for longer if the team folded.

“I’m glad the team didn’t. I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else. I like being a local guy.”

Munson and Curtis noted their appreciation for Vankoughnett, whose leadership is among reasons they never thought twice about returning this year.

“You certainly hear about it and talk about it, if the team is going to be there or not,” said BCFC all-star Curtis, who is from Regina. “Those are things you’re going to talk about with the guys and the coaches.

“You can look around here. I love the mountains and the city, and then just having a guy like coach Vanky, who always believed in me from Day 1.”

The Broncos are scheduled to open the BCFC season on July 20, with the Westshore Rebels of Langford coming to town for the Kamloops home opener.

New helmets were purchased for about $30,000. Peters said team travel for five away games costs about $30,000.

Kooper Groeneveld — a Westsyde secondary standout who aims to star for the Broncos in the future — hopes club coffers can handle expenses, noting the impact the club has on youth in the city.

“I grew up playing community ball for the junior Broncos,” he said. “We practised on the same field as them. I would always look over and be like, ‘I want to be like one of them growing up.’

“It started my dream. Without them, it would be harder to start a dream.”