Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – As they continue to remember the impact that Daniel 'Dano' Drummond had on the program, the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer team will host its second annual 'Dano Day' game on Saturday.
The event will feature two assistant coaches drafting teams for a Maroon vs. White intra-squad match (2 p.m., Edmonton Scottish Soccer Dome), with a trophy going to the winner.
As well as helping the Griffins sharpen up ahead of their season opener at Lethbridge Aug. 30, it will give all involved an opportunity to reflect on Drummond's legacy – three seasons as an all-star player and five more as an assistant coach before he passed away in June 2023 after a long battle with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
"It's really important," said Griffins head coach Adam Loga. "To carry on the legacy of Dano and to get know about him is massive. He was a huge builder for our program as a player, playing three years here, and then as a lead assistant coach for another five.
"I think it's important that (his legacy is) not only in the present with us, but that our team knows what's come prior and how he helped us progress as a program moving forward."
Drummond's family will be in attendance and fans are welcome to attend the match.
Team Maroon is the defending champion.
Team Maroon hoists the Cup after their 2023 win (Norman Bo photo).
Loga was asked what he wants his team to remember about Drummond.
"You quoted me saying it around this time last year – everybody needs a Dano," he said. "He was just there, he was present, reliable and just an amazing human.
"Obviously, he was a great footballer and an amazing coach, but most importantly a great human, great father, great husband. Who he was as a person, there's few better."
Daniel Drummond, left, was one of the best players in Griffins men's soccer program history, scoring 23 regular season goals in three ACAC campaigns from 2006-08.
With the tragic passing of former Griffins goalkeeper Dylon Powley after a motorcycle crash in June – a year to the day after Drummond's death – the team will also be holding a moment of silence in his honour.
"Pow was part of MacEwan less than a decade ago and he was coached by Dano for a portion of that time," said Loga. "It's going to be a duo celebration of life, if you will. He definitely had impact, so we want to give the respect he deserves, as well."
