Keyano College will be adding a new athletic program for the 2019-20 season; for the first time in its history the College will field a men's & women's cricket team under the Huskies banner.

"It's always exciting to enhance the athletic programs we offer," said Director of Athletics Jonathan Lambert. "We believe this program is a great fit for the Huskies and will be an important draw for student-athletes."

With this addition, the College has hired Irfan Bangash as the Men's and Women's Cricket coach.

"I've been contacting associations across Canada and around the world," said Coach Bangash. "I am expecting we will have some high-calibre players interested."

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world and Bangash, who grew up playing cricket in Pakistan, says fielding a team in Fort McMurray will provide important opportunities to recruit international student-athletes to Keyano. As the founder of the Fort McMurray Cricket Association, which now boasts seven full teams, he also expects to receive interest locally.

There are few other college level cricket programs in Alberta, but the Huskies team is expected to play against them as well as local teams in Fort McMurray.