By Lisa Parent

SMILE SUNDAYS

Sundogs cornhole league gains popularity fueled by social atmosphere

Jan 28, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Every Wednesday the Medicine Hat Legion gets a bit livelier when the South East Alberta Sundogs Cornhole League transforms the basement into a social and competitive hub for cornhole.

Since the Sundogs were created May 2023, player interest is on the rise.

Cheryle Huscroft, a new recruit to the Sundogs, has recognized she has a competitive nature when it comes to the game.

“I’ll get two or three in the hole and I think I got it figured out,” Huscroft said.

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“After ten more throws, [I] don’t hit the board, you go, excuse my expression, ‘I suck,'” Huscroft said, laughing.

Huscroft was brought into the league by Adam Nelligan, who’s been on a mission to recruit more players around the city.

“I just ask if they like Cornhole and if they do, I say, ‘hey, come out and play Wednesday nights. It’s friendly, there’s a bar,” explained Nelligan.

However, it wasnt the bar that kept Huscroft coming back to league each week.

“The main thing I really like about it are the people,” Huscroft told CHAT News.

“They’re very encouraging, they’re a lot of fun.”

The Sundogs Cornhole League has experienced growth since starting, going from zero to 50 members in just under a year, thanks to the supportive community.

Sundogs organizer Tom Simpson said they’ve had enough interest to add a second league night.

“This year we’re hoping to perhaps target the 100 mark for members,” Simpson said.

“It seems like a big stretch to double your numbers, but I really think it’s doable,” he explained.

Simpson said he’s not surprised they’ve attracted so many members so far, because they make a point of including newcomers and helping them learn.

“It’s been really neat to watch some people come in and they’re not very good the first night, but by night three or four, they’re looking like they’ve been here for a while,” he said.

Sundogs cornhole has started it’s third season and runs an individual league Monday nights and team-based league on Wednesdays.

Anyone can drop-in and play for $15 a night.

“What does it hurt to come for an evening and toss a bag around, get some steam off, or build it up,” Huscroft said.

Simpson said the next steps for the league are potentially taking the Sundogs out into the sun this summer for an outdoor league.