Three Cochrane Cobras football players officially signed with the Canadian Junior Football League's (CJFL) Calgary Colts on June 1. Linebacker Will Eilers, receiver Daniel de Bruin and offensive lineman Cody Pickering will be playing in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference next season on the same team as their former Cobras coach Rob McNab. The Canadian Junior Football League is split up into three divisions with six teams in each conference, as the British Columbia Football Conference and Ontario Football Conference joins the Prairie division. The three seniors played key roles for the Cobras. Pickering and de Bruin were one of six Cochrane High players named the team’s Most Outstanding Player (MVP), while Eilers was Best Linebacker and a league all-star. de Bruin was also the league’s recipient for Best Offensive Player while Pickering added the honours of Best Offensive Lineman and was part of Cobras team leadership award. Both de Bruin as well as Eilers represented Cochrane High during the 29th annual Senior Bowl game on May 21. The annual football event brings the best senior high school football players together from across the province to compete in a showcase game. Team South won the contest by a score of 38-23, with Eilers recording an interception that led to a South touchdown, while de Bruin made a few key catches during the game. The Cochrane High stars were a huge part of the Cobras team that went undefeated throughout the Rocky View Sports Association (RVSA) regular season with a 6-0 record, as well as winning all four Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) Provincial games including a 21-14 victory in the final over the Holy Rosary Raiders on Nov. 24. In those 10 games, the Cobras outscored their opponents by an astounding margin of 414-53, with Cochrane High averaging 41 points per game while never giving up more than 14 points en route to the team’s fourth straight provincial championship. Eilers said he's excited for the opportunity to lace up the cleats and strap on the red and white helmet with the Colts logo emblazoned on it. "I'm very excited. I get to keep playing the sport I love at the next level of competition. I wanted to take a year off before post secondary and I really wanted to stay close to home so it was just the best option for me," Eilers said. "Having Danny (Daniel de Bruin) and Cody (Pickering) there with me makes the transition 100 per cent easier. Coming out of high school can be a difficult experience for anyone so I'm happy to have teammates and friends from school joining me. It makes that (transitional) process a little bit easier." de Bruin echoed the same message as his teammates. "It's going to be nice to be able to play at a level above high school football with my teammates and show what I can do," he said. de Bruin also commented on the fact that he wouldn't be where he was today without the help of coach Rob McNab and the Cobras football program. "I'm not sure if he (Rob McNab) had a direct role in me making the team, but he is the reason I am at the skill level that I am. Without his coaching, I wouldn't be playing at the next level," de Bruin said of his now former head coach for the last three seasons. The young star receiver will be attending Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in the fall, and said joining the Colts made sense for him and his family. "I didn't get other offers to play elsewhere either so it worked out," de Bruin said. "I don't have any expectations for the upcoming season, I just hope that I can contribute to the team's success." The trio of Cobras alumni will now prepare for the upcoming CJFL season. The Colts open up their year on Aug. 19 at home against the Edmonton Huskies.
