High River's Kowal looks forward to more football

High River's Troy Kowal is back home after a stint at the B.C. Lions training camp.

He was coming off a knee injury and says once he got some confidence in his knee he started playing some good football.

"Just the opportunity to be there for three weeks and be a professional was an awesome experience and Fanfest was one of my favourite days, signing all the kids' t-shirts and the life-long Lions fans posters and signs was really really cool, and all in all it was a great experience and a great three weeks for me and a fun time playing with some really great athletes," he says.

Kowal says there was a three-day rookie camp where players were learning the offence and for those from the U.S. learning the rules of Canadian football, something Kowal had to get reacquainted with after six years at Minot State.

"The yard off the ball wasn't something that I was used to yet and it took a little bit to get used to but it was fun and once the vets got there you learned how be pro from them and it was a really good experience."

He's not disappointed at all with his time with the Leos.

"B.C.'s a really good team and they're very veteran in the O-line room so I knew it was going to be hard, they kept eight linemen on the roster and the practice roster and I knew those spots would be hard to get but it was a great experience and I have college eligibility left in Canada so I plan on playing for the (University of Calgary) Dinos if it all works out and I'm going to keep playing football."

He played his high school ball with the Highwood Mustangs so playing in a CFL exhibition game at Mosaic Stadium against the Saskatchewan Roughriders was a thrill.

Troy Kowal on the sidelines as the Lions take on the Roughriders

"It was really cool, getting booed when we ran onto the field, taking the field before the anthem was a really cool moment, and then the anthem itself was really special just hearing the Canadian anthem at that moment it's like, okay this is a professional football game in Canada, my mom and dad and sister and girlfriend were all there and some buddies came up, it was really a cool experience for me."

Kowal hopes for another shot at the CFL after his time with the Dinos is done.