Four Cochrane Lions will travel to Shouldice Athletic Park next month to try out for a coveted spot on the Calgary Bantam Football Association Selects team.
“It’s such a legacy of football,” said a proud coach Paul Vaillancourt.
Even though their season is over – the Lions were knocked out of play-off contention after a 44-22 loss to the Calgary Wildcats on Oct. 15 – the foursome still ran drills and practised passes Monday evening under the bright lights of Legacy Field.
“I want to work my hardest in practice – doing everything 105 per cent,” said running back Elijah Springer.
“I gotta work hard to make the team,” echoed quarterback Zavier Vaillancourt.
Springer and Zavier, along with 14-year-old defensive end Owen Woroby and slotback Derek Reid, each heard the good news this week from their parents, a coach, or in a congratulatory email.
The news was bittersweet for Reid, who broke his collarbone a couple of weeks ago in a brutal tackle and likely won’t be recovered enough to participate in the try-outs on Nov. 20.
“It’s bad timing,” said the teen.
Paul will work with the remaining healthy Lions players to make sure they “stay sharp” with their individual, unit and team skills.
If any of the Cochrane teammates do make the CBFA Selects, they will practise at home for a few weeks before travelling to Langley, B.C., in December for a youth tournament against other strong players from around the west.
Paul said it’s quite an honour to be selected to even try out for the team, as some CFBA alumni now play football in college and in the CFL – including Cochranite Rob Cote, who currently captains the Calgary Stampeders.
Cote’s number was retired last week at the Lions’ annual banquet to celebrate the former baller who played for the team in 1999-2000.
“I was just one of the kids on the team,” Cote said this week. “To have an honour like that is just very flattering.”
Paul said Cote spoke to the group of young footballers at the dinner, and it’s always inspiring for the kids to hear from someone who was in their cleats not all that long ago.
“The kids love to hear from the pro,” he said. “The message he gave was pretty good: find your passion, whatever it is in life, and just work hard at it.”
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