Three members of the Cochrane High Cobras football team have been selected to represent their province on the U17 Team Alberta, made up of players born in 2002. The team will take on Team Saskatchewan in an exhibition game in June before heading to Maui in August to partake in the Pacific Challenge against local Hawaiian high schools.
Cochrane High quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt and receivers Dawson Gladue and Jake Thompson were selected as the top 40 players in their age group after nearly double the number tried out to make the team.
Vaillancourt said he was ecstatic when he heard that he made the cut, knowing that he had beaten out some very good football players at his position.
“For me, being named to the team was a great feeling and a huge honour. It felt especially good because I had worked very hard over the span of the camps, which took place over the last four months,” the young Cobras signal caller said.
“There were a lot of players at camp that did tryout and after having been at the first few (tryouts) I saw it was going well and was getting to be a very real possibility for me to make this team. Once first cuts were made down to six quarterbacks, I realized I had a serious chance at making the team so I buckled down and gave it my best.”
The trio played key roles this season for the Cobras as both Vaillancourt and Gladue were named the Cobras Rookie of the Year Award for their contributions to the team as grade 10 players. The group of future Cochrane High stars were also 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, where Cochrane High averaged 41 points per game while never giving up more than 14 points en route to the team’s fourth straight provincial championship.
Vaillancourt mentioned that the trip was going to be outstanding had he made the team on his own, but said that having two of his teammates and friends with him will make the experience that much better.
“Jake and Dawson making the team is absolutely awesome. I think it’s going to be really fun to go to Hawaii with two of my best buds and I think it will be a great experience,” Vaillancourt said of his teammates.
“Dawson and I have played together for the last seven years and he’s been catching my passes for that long … Jake and I have played together for only a couple years less so my chemistry with them is tremendous.”
“This is going to be a great experience for everyone involved. I feel like the level of football will help the three of us bring more back to the Cobras as the competition level we’ll be competing at is very high.”
Vaillancourt played a backup role last season to Grade 12 starter Brett Conlon, who is now moving onto play with the University of Windsor Lancers. Vaillancourt appeared in several games in clean up duty while also starting in a game against the Bow Valley Bobcats, which the Cobras won 35-0. He said that playing for the Cobras was a huge part in the trio’s succession to make Team Alberta, while also stating his has some goals set for the upcoming season.
“Cochrane High pushed us with extra training in the weight room and ultimately just more reps, which really helped us to get in shape and make this team. The experience of playing high school level football also helped prepare us for the this particular task,” Vaillancourt said.
“As for the goals I’ve set for myself this season, the first and most important goal is to win the provincial championship with my team. Personally, having a good completion percentage and being a well rounded quarterback on and off the field is what I’m striving for.
