Category: Features

Ritchott hurdling his doubters one step at a time

By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)

Image caption: Micheal Ritchott evades an Edmonton Wildcats defender. Photo by mytoba.ca

Running back Micheal Ritchott didn’t have it easy growing up. But he’s honest about his past. It’s what has moulded him into the football player, and man he is today.

“I grew up in the north end of Winnipeg for the first nine years of my life. It was a little bit rough,” he says.

“I have six brothers and sisters as well, so things were a little bit tight on the budget, and my mom was a single parent for most of her life, so coming from that background, that’s definitely one of the things that was motivating for me and always made me want to get more in life.”

When Ritchott was going into grade six, he, along with his siblings were taken to Child and Family Services, as his mom was struggling to provide for the entire family. Unfortunately, the home that he was put in until grade eight was less than ideal.

“Things were a bit rough there,” Ritchott remarked.

“We didn’t have access to our fridge the entire time that we were there. We were never allowed to cook for ourselves, and I would be doing house chores regularly and extended amounts of school work just to keep us busy when they didn’t know what to do with us. They would find ways to do things that weren’t completely necessary, and looking back on it, some of it was actually kind of wrong.”

Ritchott coped with his surroundings by taking up football.

“When I got to foster care, I knew they said I could play any sport that I wanted,” he says.

“I found football, because my friends had said the practices were long, and I just had to do something to really stay out of the house.

“I knew football would be a good getaway for me. I wasn’t the nicest person at young age and was definitely more aggressive. Football let me control my emotions and was a big outlet for me.”

Just under two years after taking up football, Ritchott was able to move back home with his mom, who had gotten her life together.

“That’s when football started to take off,” he says.

Success with Grant Park 

Beginning in grade nine at Grant Park High School, Ritchott started training with elite level speed coach Glen Bruce, who was also a teacher at the school.

Bruce had helped local CFL stars such as Andrew Harris, Anthony Coombs and Nic Demski elevate their game. He did the same for Ritchott, while also becoming a valuable male role model.

“[Bruce] is one of the biggest mentors I have. He really showed me what it’s like to be a professional athlete,” Ritchott says.

“He pushed me, and saw something in me at a younger age that I didn’t quite see. I don’t have many male figures in my life, so he was instrumental for me. I don’t think I’d be looking at the opportunity I’m looking at, or be the football player I am today without him.”

With the guidance of Bruce, as well as long-time varsity, and current junior varsity head coach Mike Kennedy, Ritchott tore up the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL).

He helped his team make it to the inaugural junior varsity title game in 2010, thanks to a last second missed field goal return for a touchdown. The following year, he won the AA Offensive Player of the Year award, while also leading Grant Park to their first-ever championship in team history. In his senior year, he won top offensive player once again.

Ritchott during his time with Grant Park. Photo by Winnipeg Sun.

Move to Vancouver Island

Despite all of his accolades, Ritchott was never ranked in the top 100 at any point in high school, and received no offers from any U SPORTS schools. His size may have been a factor, as he stands at just five-foot-nine and a little over 180 pounds.

“That’s a chip I carry, but it’s not something that affects my game,” he says of his lack of U SPORTS offers.

“It’s definitely something that makes me better, because if you know me, you’ll know that I’m one self motivated guy, and I don’t need anybody else’s motivation, but if you’re going to give me that motivation, it’s just more fuel to the fire.”

One man that was high on Ritchott’s abilities however, was former Vancouver Island Raiders/current Langley Rams head coach Matt ‘snoop’ Blokker.

“Coach snoop was one of, if not the only coach in Canada to legitimately say, I want you on my program. I want to give you an opportunity,” Ritchott says.

Blokker flew Ritchott out for the BC junior football team’s 2013 spring camp, where the duo hit it off.

“After meeting the man, I just knew that it was fate, and that I needed to learn from and build off of him.”

The Raiders utilized a three back system that year, with Ritchott contributing 406 yards as a rookie while also making his presence felt as a return specialist. As a team, Vancouver Island made it all the way to the national championship, with Ritchott being named offensive player of the game in the national semi against Windsor.

“[Vancouver Island] ran such a pro style offence, and the way they ran their program as a whole was more professional than I could have ever imagined before heading out there,” Ritchott says with passion. “Going there, junior football was like the pros to them, that’s how they treated it.”

Off the field, life was more challenging, as Ritchott had trouble with the cost of living on the west coast. At just 17, managing bills was difficult. Thankfully, Blokker was right there to provide support, while also pushing Ritchott at the right times.

“After a couple weeks with [Blokker], he pulled me aside and told me, ‘you better start taking this seriously. You have more than an opportunity here.’ He told me point blank, you choose what you want to do here. You can be a pro athlete or you can play your five years and be done.

That really kicked the switch in my head that made me realize there’s a guy out here that sees an opportunity in me, and that was huge. It was one of the things that made me commit completely to football.”

Ritchott evades a defender while with the Raiders. Photo by Aaron Hinks.

The end of the 2013 season threw a minor wrench into Ritchott’s plans, as Blokker made the move to the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) to coach the Calgary Colts.

With his most valuable mentor out west gone, Ritchott was forced to adjust. While his rushing numbers decreased, his return yardage didn’t. He finished the season averaging 24.1 yards per punt return and 25.3 yards per kick return and also added three combined touchdowns.

He also made history in a 52-44 win in week five against Langley, becoming the first-ever Canadian Junior Football League player to return two 100-plus yard kickoffs for touchdowns.

Return home/debut with Winnipeg Rifles

Unfortunately, things weren’t going well back home. Ritchott’s grandpa was sick with cancer and his mom wasn’t taking it too well. At the end of his second season, he knew it was time to come back home and be with his family.

Not long after returning, the PFC’s Winnipeg Rifles got in contact Ritchott after finding out he had cut ties with the Raiders. The coaching staff helped him secure a job and made his transition to the team a seamless one.

“The transition to joining the Rifles was very easy. I don’t think I brought a negative impact to the team, I think a lot of guys were excited, and I got things fired up for those guys coming back home,” he says.

“I thought it was really exciting to be back home as well, and to get to be able to play in front of my mom and my family.”

Personally, Ritchott’s most grounding experience with the Rifles occurred during his fourth year, as his child was born.

He was in a position where he was working full time during the season in order to provide for his family. He’d go to work from 8-4 during the week, and then head straight to practice. He wouldn’t get home until around 9 p.m., when he would spend quality time with his son.

“[Having a child] brought things into perspective about what’s more important, and what to prioritize,” he says passionately.

“Before him, I saw nothing but football. But bringing him into my life created a different diversity for me. It was actually more motivating for me as a football player, father and support worker. It brought the best things out of me and made me a better person than I am today.”

On the field, Ritchott’s play was consistent. He recorded at least 800 yards rushing in each of his three seasons, and finished with 3,173 combined all-purpose yards, as well as 23 touchdowns.

Ritchott during his time with the Rifles. Photo by blue bombers.com.

He also got the opportunity to attend the Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp in both 2016 and 2017. Ritchott impressed the coaching staff so much in his second go-around that they extended his stay for three weeks into main camp.

“[Practicing with the Bombers] was one of those phenomenal experiences,” he says.

“I was literally living like a bomber and doing everything they did. That was a huge step for me, just seeing everything these guys do on a daily basis to keep their bodies and minds right.

I matured from that and learned from that, and everything that I would receive as knowledge, I took it in and brought it as far as I could into my program as well.”

Recently, Ritchott was given more good news, as he was invited to participate in the CFL’s Western Regional Combine, taking place on Thursday, March 22 in Winnipeg. If he performs well enough, he’ll be invited to the national combine which takes place in the ‘Peg two days later.

For Ritchott, it’s just another chance to prove the doubters wrong, and make his CFL dream a reality.

“I do not do this for anybody except myself and my family now. I know there’s going to be a lot of people who say he’s too small and he can’t do this or that, but that’s just something I’m going to have to keep dealing with and having to prove people wrong until they get the sense that this is exactly what I’m meant to do.”

Larsen looking to capitalize on second U SPORTS opportunity

By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)

Image Caption: Chris Larsen during his time with the Westshore Rebels. Photo by Erich Eichhorn

Defensive end/linebacker Chris Larsen will be the first to tell you that his football journey hasn’t necessarily been the smoothest. But he’s battled through the trials and tribulations thrown at him, and come out a better man because of it.

Larsen – a native of Toronto – was a late bloomer to the game, not strapping on the pads until grade nine. He was always interested in playing, but was caught up with other sports.

“I always played football in the schoolyard with my friends and stuff like that, and I guess that’s where I started to get my base skills,” he says.

“After grade eight, when I went off to high school, I went to a school that was well known for their football team, and that’s one of the things that I wanted to do, was join.”

From grades 9-12, Larsen was a versatile weapon for East York Collegiate Institute, as well as his summer team, the Scarborough Thunder of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL).

The six-foot-five, 230-pound product saw action at free safety, linebacker and defensive end, and also suited up on the opposite side of the line as a receiver and quarterback.

In his second year at East York, he helped his squad to a regional championship by hauling in 11 touchdowns, and he was also an OVFL all-star in 2012.

Larsen during his high school days. Photo by canadafootballchat.

“[Playing on offence] just kind of opened my eyes to how offensive players think,” he says of his well-rounded high school career. “I like to play sort of a mental game, so being able to see how that side of the ball sees your position, I think just helps out a lot.”

Commitment to Guelph

Larsen’s performance on the field caught the eye of most of the top tier teams in the OUA. But it was the Guelph Gryphons who stood out. Their staff had originally started chatting with Larsen after the OVFL all-star game in his grade 10 year, and continued to keep in touch. Larsen appreciated their diligence, as he was going through some personal struggles during high school.

“Ever since grade 10 [Guelph] would always be checking in on me,” Larsen says.

I had a pretty rough time in high school. My dad passed away and just going through that stuff was hard and I was struggling in school. Not a lot of coaches would keep in contact after you tell them your marks are not scholarship-eligible, but every once in a while, the Guelph coaches would check in to see how school was going, and would tell me that they’re still interested.”

Persistence paid off for the Gryphons, as Larsen ultimately chose to commit to Guelph for the 2015 season. But there was still the question of academics, something that the hybrid defensive end/linebacker had struggled with ever since his fathers passing.

“When coaches start to hit you with the questions about your schooling, you go school? I thought you guys wanted me for football. All the reality of that stuff kind of kicked in.”

Larsen was a late admission to Guelph, due to having to shore up some academic issues. But he made it for training camp, impressing the coaches enough at the defensive end position to make the dressing roster as a rookie.

As a team, the Gryphons were able to capture the OUA conference championship, their first since 1996.

“That whole year was pretty surreal, from dressing in games, to learning from the older guys on the team,” Larsen says. “Being able to win the Yates Cup in my first year was an amazing experience as well. All in all in was a good time.”

Academic challenges

Unfortunately, off the field, things weren’t going as smoothly. Larsen fell behind in some of his classes and was academically ineligible following his first year.

“Just trying to be able to balance football with class, it’s a big difference from high school, with the course load, and a lot of responsibility for class work on you and not really on the teachers,” he says.

“That was a big change.”

Larsen took some summer classes in order to try and gain his eligibility back for the 2016 season, but missed the standard by 2-3 percent. Instead of getting down on himself, he continued to stay positive on the gridiron.

“In my mindset, I just wanted to make as many practices as possible, play scout team and just make the guys in front of me even better every day.”

Academically, Larsen was doing much better in his second year, but was still a bit short of the eligibility requirements. He took another summer course in order to try and boost his GPA, but fell 0.04 percent shy of the standard required to play. It was at this time that Larsen decided leaving Guelph was likely his best bet.

“In my eyes, I didn’t want to not play another year of football,” he says.

“Dressing in my first year and playing was fun, but knowing I wasn’t playing a lot of time, and second year not playing at all, looking back on it, if I really want to have a set goal of going professional, there’s no footage of me playing enough time, so ultimately that’s why I left.”

Westshore move

After departing university, Larsen set out to find a junior team to play for, in order to get more game footage that he could send to professional scouts.

He saw on social media that a few of his former teammates from Scarborough were heading out west to play for the Westshore Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference (BCFC). That, coupled with the fact that he’d always wanted to travel to BC, made his decision to commit to the Rebels a natural choice.

Westshore had a number of former U SPORTS players on their roster, and were fresh off a national championship appearance from the year before. They rolled to a 9-1 regular season, before being upset in the conference championship.

Larsen with Westshore, and now Bison teammates Jeremie Drouin (first on left) and Kent Hicks (second on right).

Despite the result, Larsen accomplished what he set out to do, which was increase his visibility on the field. Individually, he registered 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, an interception and a touchdown.

“I felt like I got snubbed of an all-star vote, but it’s also pretty hard to get a vote with the other guys on the d-line I was playing with,” he says with a chuckle.

Manitoba Bound

As the year started to come to a close, Larsen had a choice to make in terms of where he would play the following year. He knew he wanted to get back to the U SPORTS level in order to finish what he started, and settled on the Canada West conference.

“Me personally, I felt that playing in the OUA again would feel too weird, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go out east, so CanWest was my option. As a league, the competition was always strong.”

Before the end of the year, Rebels defensive coordinator Shane Beatty introduced Larsen to Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie, who was on a trip recruiting multiple members of the Westshore roster. Larsen’s teammates also put in a good word for him, and after watching his film, the Bisons went all in on the Ontario product.

With his commitment, Larsen has a second chance to prove to himself that he has what it takes to thrive both on the field and in the classroom.

“The first thing I want to deal with is school. I want to have over a 70 average and be able to earn my scholarship and my degree,” he says.

“Athletically, I think with the team there already is, there’s a lot of talent, and with the guys who I know, I think there’s something special that could happen for sure.”

Twelve players with Manitoba connections invited to 2018 CFL Western Regional Combine

Written by: Mike Still (@mikestill94)

The CFL unveiled its full list of regional combine participants today, and 14 Manitobans have made the cut, as well as one incoming Manitoba Bison recruit. Five of the nine selected athletes come from the Bisons program, two from the Winnipeg Rifles (PFC), and one each from the Minot State Beavers (NCAA Division II) Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West), Calgary Dinos (Canada West) and Calgary Colts . The incoming recruit, Tyson Thompson, is a former member of both the Bishops Gaitors (RSEQ) as well as the Westshore Rebels (BCFC).

Below is a breakdown of each of the players invited.

Jayden McKoy, DB, Manitoba Bisons: McKoy has done it all for the Herd during his career. His 13 total interceptions puts him third all-time in program history, and he has also recorded 150 total tackles. McKoy’s versatility has shown over the years, specifically in 2016 and 2017, where he played both safety and halfback. He was also a team captain last season and was honoured with his first career Canada West All-Star selection.

When asked after the 2017 season about his versatility, he said “I feel like I’m a bit more natural at the free safety position, but I’ll go in there at half and just do my job.”

McKoy in game action against Regina. Photo by Chantal Zdan.

Tyler Fong, DB, Manitoba Bisons: Fong has been a valuable leader in Manitoba’s secondary ever since stepping on campus in 2013. He’s a three-time captain with strong range who hits like a mack truck. Injuries have hampered the veteran for the past few seasons, but his journey, both on and off the field, is one that many players can look up to.

Fong makes a tackle against Regina. Photo by mytoba.ca.

Anthony Daley, OL, Manitoba Bisons: Daley spent the last two seasons with the Bisons, and was a captain last year. Prior to joining the Herd, he enjoyed tremendous success with Langley Rams of the BCFC, earning two All-Canadian selections while also attending BC Lions training camp on three separate occasions as a territorial exemption.

Daley alongside teammate Reid McMorris. Photo by Jeff Miller.

James Mau, LB, Manitoba Bisons: Mau had a breakout season as Manitoba’s starting middle linebacker in 2017, finishing fourth in the conference in total tackles with 48, while also adding a sack, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Aside from his contributions as a linebacker, Mau was also a stud on special teams for the better part of four seasons.

“I walked into training camp with a lot of confidence, just knowing that I knew the playbook better than anybody else did because I’m a fifth-year guy,” Mau said at the end of the year regarding his 2017 performance. “I really worked hard in the offseason, on and off the field and dedicated a lot of time to football.”

Mau makes a tackle against UBC. Photo by Chantal Zdan.

Stephen Ugbah, WR, Manitoba Bisons: A member of the roster since 2014, Ubgbah had the best season of his U SPORTS career last year, hauling in 15 receptions for 2016 yards and a touchdown. Ugbah has battled injuries over the past few years, but when healthy is a deep playmaking threat with solid athleticism.

Ugbah celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Guelph Gryphons. Photo by Trevor Hagan.

Taylor Maloney, WR, Minot State: Maloney wreaked havoc as a member of Brandon’s Crocus Plains Plainsmen in high school, earning himself looks both north and south of the border. Over the past four years with the Beavers, Maloney has amassed 444 yards receiving, including a career-high 323 yards this past year.

Odun Ogidan, RB, Winnipeg Rifles: One half of the two-headed monster in the Rifles backfield for the past few seasons, Ogidan amassed 964 rushing yards over four years, after only playing football competitively for two years previously. He’s dangerous to tackle in space and has a high motor.

Ogden off to the races against Calgary. Photo by Hudl.com.

Micheal Ritchott, RB, Winnipeg Rifles: Ritchott was nothing short of stellar during his tenure with the Rifles. He tallied a whopping 2,179 yards on the ground from 2014-17, and also added 861 yards and two scores as one of the league’s most dangerous kick returners. He’s also got professional experience, having participated in the Blue Bomber’s rookie camp for the past two years.

Ritchott dives for the end zone. Photo by Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Dylan Minshull, RB, Calgary Colts: Minshull was an unstoppable force for Brandon’s Neelin Spartans in high school, and has carried his success to the junior football ranks, registering 2,070 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns over three years with the Colts. The former conference all-star’s playoff numbers are just as impressive, as in four contests, he’s averaged over 100 yards rushing with four total scores.

Minshull runs over a Saskatoon defender. Photo by hudl.com.

Brooks Falloon, DB, Saskatchewan Huskies: Falloon – a former All-Canadian with the Winnipeg Rifles and native of St. Lazare, Manitoba – has been an integral part of the Huskies secondary for the past two years, amassing 76.5 tackles as well as two interceptions. His presence was particularly felt last year as a veteran amidst a group of relatively young teammates on the back end.

Falloon makes a tackle against UBC. Photo by Greg Pender.

Curtis Krahn, OL, Calgary Dinos: Krahn, who enjoyed success with the Winnipeg Rifles before joining the Dinos roster in 2015, has been a mainstay on Calgary’s offensive line. With his help, the team has won two straight Hardy Cup titles, while also providing blanket-like protection to whoever is under centre.

Krahn shortly after signing his letter of intent with Calgary in 2015. Photo by Calgary Dinos football.

Tyson Thompson, OL, Westshore Rebels: Thompson was a dominant force for the past two years with the Rebels, earning a conference all-star selection in 2017. He’s endured some health struggles in the past, but is currently in the best shape of his career and ready to make an impact either in the CFL or with the Bisons.

“This year I was able to start reaching my full potential and start turning into the player I’ve always wanted to be,” he told manitobafootballfeed back in December. “Hopefully I can continue to do that over the next two years.”

Thompson with former head coach JC Boice, shortly after winning the BCFC’s Cullen Cup in 2016.

Football more than a sport for Bison-bound Montour

Growing up without a father is never easy. But for Sisler Spartans linebacker Easton Montour, football has provided him with invaluable levels of male guidance, as well as the confidence to succeed both on and off the field.

Living in the north end, Montour’s mother and grandmother originally registered him for football as a way to stay preoccupied from bad influences.

“I didn’t really enjoy [football] at first,” Montour says. “It was just something to do after school.”

But Montour’s minor football coaches saw his potential from a young age, and became critical assets in his life.

“I always had a strong bond with my coaches, because I didn’t have that father figure,” he says. “Usually my mom would be working by the time I had practice, so I’d need a ride, so I’d ask coaches.”

As Montour got older, his performance continued to rise. In his first year with the Spartans junior varsity team in grade nine for example, he was named as the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Despite his accolades, Montour continued to be his own worst critic.

“Throughout the whole year, I was better and I improved obviously, but I didn’t stick out, really. I was just there,” he says. “I didn’t make any big plays, I just made tackles here and there.”

At the end of his grade nine year, Montour found another role model in Vincent Massey Winnipeg/Team Manitoba U16 head coach Kelsey McKay, who helped him with his confidence and performance as a member of the provincial team.

“I improved so much from [being on the provincial team],” he says. After that, I was contemplating going to Vincent Massey, because I’d made friends there and I really liked coach McKay. He was really nice to me.”

After contemplating his options, Montour chose to stay at Sisler for his grade 10 year. His decision paid off, as the team won the junior varsity title, despite Montour sustaining a foot injury.

It was around this time that Montour met Mitchell Harrison, a former defensive standout for the Manitoba Bisons as well as a Sisler alumnus. He had returned to his old high school as a teacher, but was also joining the staff as the defensive coordinator.

Harrison makes a tackle during his time with Manitoba. Photo by David Lipnowski.

Over the next two years, Harrison became a mentor for Montour, having been in his exact shoes in the past.

“The demographic is completely the same as when I went there. You’re going to have the kids that are going to try and get you into gangs, you’re going to have the kids that are doing drugs and all that stuff. I had friends that did those sorts of things and they’re still my friends, but you have to separate yourself from them to a certain extent,” Harrison says.

“It’s about painting that line for him, that you have a future and you have to focus that a bit, and organize your priorities. And I think the fact that I went through that not too long ago made it easier for him to relate to it.”

With support from Harrison, as well as Sisler head coach Sean Esselmont, Montour continued to shine on the field.

In his grade 11 year, he was named team MVP. That winter, he also made premier training program Recruit Ready’s seven-on-seven travelling team, where he competed against some of the top high school players in the USA. Recruit Ready’s staff is comprised of a number of former elite level university athletes, as well as current and former CFL and NFL pros.

“Recruit Ready helped me a ton with playing football, and my coverage,” Montour says. “I was going into the season like yes, I am the best defensive player there is in this league. I was beyond confident.”

Montour also made Team Manitoba later that summer, and when he returned for his senior year in 2017, Harrison could tell he was more focused than ever to succeed.

“He’ll completely transition, he’s like the goofiest player you’ll meet off the field and such a fun time to be around. But then he puts his helmet on and he’s just a completely different person. You can tell that the passion and intensity is there,” he says.

“You don’t get that from a lot of high school kids, they’re just there to have fun, but he takes it very seriously, and it shows.”

Montour’s senior season was nothing short of dominant. He finished with 70.5 tackles and was honoured at years end as the AAA Defensive Player of the Year. Personally, the award meant a lot to Montour, as he had told his uncle – who he also looked to as a role model – that he was going to finish the year leading the league in tackles.

“I wanted to be first. And I did finish first the next season,” he says.

“I told [my uncle] the amount of tackles I had and he was really happy. It honestly felt really nice. I always knew that he was proud of me, but it felt good for him to actually show it.”

Montour (L) after receiving the AAA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Photo by Geordie Wilson.

With his senior year coming to a close, Montour had a choice to make. He wanted to go to university, but knew that without a scholarship, that wouldn’t be an option. He was also in close conversation with the Vancouver Island Raiders of the BC junior football league, and was leaning towards heading west.

Thankfully, all through the recruiting process, Harrison was right there. It brought the duo even closer together.

“I just told him not to mislead anyone, and ultimately, to look out for himself and whatever is best for him,” Harrison says.

Ultimately, Montour was blessed with an opportunity to play for the U of M, while also gaining a scholarship for school. Not surprisingly, Bison football head coach Brian Dobie was open and transparent the whole way through.

“When I went to go meet with [Dobie] the one time, we had a long conversation,” Montour says. “He loves to talk, I love to talk and he was really straight up with me. I told him what my weaknesses were and how I feel and everything.”

When Montour starts his post-secondary journey, he won’t be embarking alone. Harrison will continue to lend him his ear in the hopes that the young star can continue to succeed just like he’s done at every level of football thus far.

“I told him there’s a group of guys that are dedicated to school and stuff like that, and you need to associate yourself with that, because otherwise it’s going to be hard to maintain the academic side,” he says.

“I also told him to reach out to me in terms of marking papers and that sort of stuff. I screwed up a lot in my first year, so I’m just trying to make sure that he doesn’t.”

All-Canadian Krause following the Herd to Manitoba

Offensive lineman Christian Krause has experienced many peaks and valleys in his football career.

A former standout with the Mount Douglas Rams, Krause helped guide the team to a historic third straight B.C. AAA championship in 2013, a feat never accomplished prior.

“I didn’t know anything other than winning until getting out of high school,” he says. “We only ever lost one game a year, and it was a pretty close-knit team.”

Krause (L) with former Mount Douglas/Manitoba teammate Ashton MacKinnon (R). Photo by Arlen Redekop.

Not surprisingly, the six-foot-five, 300-pounder attracted interest from universities across Canada. He took in eight total visits through grades 11 and 12, but ultimately decided that Manitoba was the best fit for the 2014 season. He also had three former Mount Douglas teammates who were set to join him on the Bisons.

“I just fell in love with Manitoba,” he says. “There was good family vibes on the team and everyone had the desire to win.”

Krause was one of the top 100 players in Canada coming out of high school and had all the tools to be successful at the collegiate ranks. Unfortunately, he was hampered in part by a serious injury to his ACL.

He originally tore the ligament in grade 11 playing rugby and had surgery the following year. He then had a second surgery in his first year at the U of M, as he tried to push the injury a bit too much when it wasn’t completely ready.

“At first [the injury] was frustrating, but I learned over time that it’s going to take its course and it’s something that has to happen,” he says.

On the field, Krause had to adjust to not being the top guy for the first time in his career.

“It was a little bit of a slap in the face, I’m not going to lie,” he says. “It was different, but after week two I kind of figured it out and was like, yeah these guys are 24 years old, I’ve got to earn my place.”

At the end of his second year with Manitoba, Krause decided it was time to depart the U of M campus. A combination of factors including school, a desire for more playing time, as well as family matters influenced his decision.

Despite not getting on the field immediately and having to wait out his injury, Krause still matured as a player in both 2014 and 2015 with the Herd.

“I was kind of soft and I didn’t want to hurt anybody,” he says. “I wasn’t a fighter going in, but leaving I definitely had a chip on my shoulder and wanted to prove something to myself and every other coach out there.”

Despite his choice to leave, Krause knew he still wanted to play football, it was just a matter of where. Then, a conversation with long-time friend and former Mount Douglas teammate Armin Purewal changed everything.

Purewal pitched the idea of playing junior football for the Westshore Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference. The team had struggled in the past, but was bringing in a number of former U SPORTS players and also had Shane Beatty – the former head coach of the Okanagan Sun – coming in as a strength and conditioning coach as well as defensive co-ordinator.

“[Armin] kind of showed me what they had to offer. It wasn’t an easy choice, but I saw that they had Shane Beatty and all these guys, and I thought I would be able to get my body right and still play,” Krause says.

“When I made the decision to come back, I called up [former Bison teammates] Jamel [Lyles] and Kent [Hicks] and all the boys and was like, this is the situation, let’s do this.”

With a roster full of players that were completely familiar with each other, the Rebels rolled. They played in back-to-back conference title games in 2016 and 2017, with the former leading all the way to the national final against Saskatoon.

Individually, Krause accomplished exactly what he set out to do. His body “never felt better” in his first year with the team, and he collected an All-Canadian award at seasons end. He repeated this feat in 2017, despite injuring the ACL and MCL in his other knee. He credits having to line up against players with U SPORTS experience at practice as a driving force behind his success on the field.

Krause registers a block during his time with Westshore. Photo by Erich Eichhorn image (www.allsportmedia.ca)

“It definitely made the games a hell of a lot easier. Having to line up against [former Bishop’s Gaitor] Jeremie Drouin and [Manitoba Bison] Kent Hicks every practice, it’s frustrating, because they’re very, very, very good,” he says.

“My confidence was so much higher going into games, because I was lining up against the best guys every practice.”

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Krause knew it was time to try his luck at the university level again. A number of his teammates, including Hicks, offensive lineman Tyson Thompson and quarterback Scott Borden Jr. were also making the move, and they all felt that Manitoba was the best choice. Lyles was also there already, having made the move back the year prior.

“We definitely talked to each other and said that’s the movement. I had other coaches talking to me but I kind of just ignored them,” he says.

Going into the 2018 campaign, Krause is a few years wiser, having benefitted greatly from his time with the Rebels. He’ll be heading back to Manitoba in a month to start his rehab with head athletic therapist Lori Nickel, and is more motivated than ever.

“I understand schemes just from me having to coach myself and the other guys [at Westshore] and being forced to learn,” he says. “Definitely now, with some of the changes that have been made, I think Manitoba can be a very strong team.”

Former AUS standout Shaun Robinson taking his talents to Manitoba

The Manitoba Bisons have added more muscle to their defence, as hybrid defensive end/linebacker Shaun Robinson will suit up for the squad in 2018.

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Robinson has wreaked havoc during his football career — one that includes three international appearances with Team Canada. He was so dominant that universities in the Maritimes began recruiting him back in grade nine.

“[Being recruited that early] was exciting, because I was more just thinking about which high school I wanted to go to,” he says.

As a member of the vaunted Citadel Phoenix of the Nova Scotia Student Athletic Federation Football League (NSSAFFL), he helped guide his squad to championship titles in 2011 and 2012 – the latter of which was part of a historic 46-game winning streak that dated back to 2008.

Robinson was named a CFC Top 100 prospect entering his senior year in 2013– one of just two Nova Scotia players to earn the honour. After weighing his options at year-end, he chose to attend Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. The team was coming off of an AUS championship-winning season, and Robinson also felt the school offered him what he needed academically.

His first year with the Mounties was “a learning curve,” but it also taught him how to “turn his game up to a whole other level.” He earned a starting spot after the third week of season and finished the year with 28.5 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. As a team, Mount Allison claimed a second straight AUS banner, and fell just short 24-12 against McMaster in the national semi-final.

The following year at just 19 years old, Robinson shone. He was all over the field, collecting 41 tackles, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and was honoured at years end with an AUS All Star selection.

Robinson as a member of Mount Allison. Photo by Christian LaForce.

“I felt it was important to prove to myself that I belong on the field with everyone,” Robinson says of his early success at the U SPORTS level. “I was just having fun and playing fast with the guys out there.”

Unfortunately, things turned sour after the 2015 season. There was turmoil within the program and Robinson wanted a change. His cousin and fellow Bison commit Scott Borden Jr. was also de-committing from U SPORTS football for the time being and suggested a shift to junior football.

“I didn’t really know anything about junior. But I talked to the coaches out there and trusted what they were telling me,” he says.

After reflecting on his options, the former AUS standout decided to join Borden Jr. with the Westshore Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference for the 2016 season.

The duo went out to Victoria a few months early to train and make some money before the season. Robinson benefitted greatly from the guidance of well-respected defensive co-ordinator Shane Beatty, who had led the Okanagan Sun to a national title appearance the year before.

The first three games of the 2016 season went off without a hitch. Robison collected 13 tackles, half a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, but opted to go home before the midway point of the year in order to fully focus on school.

Despite an early exit, Robinson still grew as a player with the Rebels.

“I got better playing with all of those guys at Westshore,” he says. “And we were training with Shane Beatty so we were getting just as strong as the pros.”

The following year, Robinson returned to junior, but this time with Okanagan. He was enjoying another successful season – collecting 18 tackles and three sacks – before tearing his meniscus during the eighth game of the year.

Robinson during his time with Okanagan. Photo by Warren Henderson.

The injury, which required surgery, took not only his season away, but also a chance to head to this years CFL eastern regional combine. Despite turning the offer down due to his knee, Robinson is optimistic that he’ll get another shot to impress CFL scouts.

“The rehab process is what it is. You just work towards getting that mobility and strength back. I’m excited to get back to the field, because everything is fixed now,” he says.

Despite his knee injury, Robinson was still attracting interest from universities across Canada. Bison football head coach Brian Dobie had wanted to bring Shaun in for a number of years, and met with him in Okanagan while he was recovering.

“We had a really good conversation,” Robinson says. “I liked how genuine he was and how he understood everything because he’s been around for so long and I trust him.”

Later that year, Robinson and Borden Jr. both took in a visit to Manitoba. They loved how welcoming the team was, and also knew that a number of former Rebels were also interested in joining the squad. That was enough to convince the pair to buy in.

Robinson will be coming to Manitoba early in May, in order to get a head start on his courses, and is excited for what’s to come both on and off the field.

“It’s going to be a violent defence,” he says. “We’re going to play fast and strip the ball. I want us to be number one in turnovers and run stopping. We’re going to play hard for sure.”

Thompson healthy, focused and ready to make an impact for Bisons

Offensive lineman Tyson Thompson has endured a fair amount of tribulations during his football career. But every time a metaphorical wall was put in front of him, he smashed it down in pursuit of gridiron greatness.

Thompson comes from a football background. Relatives on both sides of his family have played at the university level in the past, with his Uncle Jake Vaughan and grandpa Kaye Vaughan both suiting up in the CFL. With this in mind it’s not surprising that the Squamish, B.C. native decided to take up the sport.

Despite his passion for the game, Thompson struggled to gain interest from university programs during his high school career at Howe Sound Secondary. This wasn’t for a lack of talent, but simply because he played in the smallest division of BC high school football.

“Being at a smaller high school, it was definitely harder to get exposure,” he says. “Just from the competition that I played against, I think I was a raw player with a lot of potential.”

In February of his senior year, Thompson’s university dreams inched closer to reality, thanks to a strong showing at a combine that was attended by scouts from UBC and Simon Fraser. Both schools wanted him, but academic issues interfered.

“For me, I had to upgrade courses to get into UBC or SFU,” Thompson says. “Both coaches at those programs wanted me to play junior and upgrade my courses so I could come the following year.”

Thompson was 17 at the time, and the idea of playing junior football while also working, going to school and living independently sounded daunting, so he decided to pass on both schools.

All was not lost though, as Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec was also interested in his services. His dad and uncle had both previously played at the school, and his mom’s side of the family also lived out east, so there was a strong family connection. Because of a difference in entrance requirements, Thompson was able to successfully enrol and became a member of the football team for the 2013 season.

Rollercoaster ride at Bishop’s

Thompson’s first year was filled with ups and downs. He experienced a “big culture shock” at first, and had to grow up pretty quickly because he was living on his own. On the field though, Bishop’s had a winning season and also hosted a playoff game. The team was filled with senior players who helped Thompson adjust to university-level play.

Thompson was ambitious entering his second year, based on the success of the season prior. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, as the team struggled and he didn’t end up dressing until late in the campaign.

“I came in a little bit cocky from my first year because I started to dress at the end of the year and I thought I was going to just walk on to the field and be the guy in my second year, but that wasn’t the case.”

Thompson after signing with Bishop’s. Photo by Squamish Chief.

Thompson’s fortunes went from bad to worse following the 2014 season, as he re-aggravated a back injury that was eventually diagnosed as three herniated discs.

“The process of rehabbing from that injury was pretty long,” he says. “I got diagnosed with the injury in January of 2015, and I wasn’t able to start lifting and running again until June, so it was almost a six month rehab just to do regular stuff again.”

Going into his third year, Thompson was still having sciatic nerve pain down the left side of his leg and foot. He didn’t feel like his body was where it needed to be in order to compete at his best, so he sat out the 2015 season. By the end of the semester, Thompson was looking at other options, as he didn’t feel that the nonchalant culture in the locker room was changing.

After mulling over his options, he decided to return to BC to play junior football. His decision was rooted primarily with the notion that he’d be able to get more snaps and also gain confidence coming off of his injury.

Thompson had interest from a few different programs, but settled on the Westshore Rebels for the 2016 season. His choice was heavily influenced by defensive co-ordinator Shane Beatty’s move to the Rebels from Okanagan in the offseason. Beatty had previously helped CFL draft pick and former Okanagan sun defender Dexter Janke get back to a high level of play after three different tears to his ACL, and Thompson felt he could benefit from Beatty’s knowledge.

“The main reason I wanted to play for [coach Beatty] is because he had a strong reputation for helping players train in the weight room and rehab,” Thompson says.

“Just coming off of the injury I had, I really felt that this was going to be the coach that could change my circumstances and get me back at a level on the playing field that I felt good at.”

‘Culture of accountability’ with the Rebels

When Thompson arrived at Westshore, he noticed an immediate shift in intensity compared to Bishop’s, as there was a “culture of accountability” instilled in every player.

“I remember showing up and we had 50 guys working out together five days of the week from April until the beginning of the season in July,” he says.

“Right there, that really brought the team super close together and created that culture that everybody has to put in the same amount of work if we want to be willing to win.”

On the field, Thompson was able to thrive, thanks to intense physical training and a rejuvenated attitude. He started every game, as the Rebels went from two wins the year prior, to eight wins and a trip to the national championship.

Thompson (L) in action for Westshore. Photo by Westshore Rebels Football Club.

“The competition we faced in practice each week was probably more challenging than the games,” he says.

“I think that’s what really got us prepared and why we were so successful. By the time game time rolled around we had already seen the worst, so we were a confident group going into each game.”

In 2017, Thompson took his game a step further, earning a conference all-star selection as the Rebels went 9-1 in the regular season before getting upset in the playoffs.

Thompson with former Squamish teammate James Harney. Photo by Squamish Chief.

“I felt like I was really able to dominate my opponent in certain circumstances on the field, and I felt like I played at a much higher level than I did in my first year,” he says.

When the year ended, Thompson knew it was time to return to school. He has two years of eligibility left, and wanted to finish what he started on the field while also completing his degree.

He sent his film out to a bunch of coaches, one of which was Manitoba’s Brian Dobie. The two had a few phone calls and Thompson also came on a visit. He liked what he saw and committed to the squad in early January. He’ll be joining former Westshore teammates Scott Borden Jr., Kent Hicks and Jamel Lyles, and has his sights set on a Vanier Cup.

“This year I was able to start reaching my full potential and start turning into the player I’ve always wanted to be,” he says. “Hopefully I can continue to do that over the next two years.”

Hicks ready for second go with Bisons

Defensive tackle Kent Hicks is an intelligent, strategic thinker, and it’s shown in his football journey.

For example, up until grade 10, his high school in Abbotsford, B.C. didn’t have a football program. In order to compensate, he played both community football and rugby – the latter of which helped with athleticism as well as toughness.

Hicks had thoughts of continuing with rugby after high school, but ultimately decided he’d be able to go further and gain an education through football.

Coming out of high school in 2013, he had offers from a few different teams but chose Manitoba. His decision came down to a few different factors, with one being the chance to get playing time immediately.

“[Defensive tackle] Shahpour [Birjandian] had torn his biceps that spring camp and that spot as the third man in the rotation was up for grabs,” Hicks says. “I really felt that I had the chance and could do it.”

U SPORTS adjustment

When Hicks first came to Manitoba’s training camp, the shift in the level of play was noticeable.

“I was like a child playing against men,” he says.

“I definitely didn’t know my body at all. So coming into main camp and getting thrown in right away, the play-calling and the speed and strength of the game was an adjustment.”

Hicks credits fellow defensive lineman Evan Gill – a first round pick of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014 – with helping him adjust to the level of play in U SPORTS. Gill’s advice paid off, as Hicks dressed and played in every game as a true freshman.

“Evan just kind of took me under his wing and showed me some tricks of the trade,” Hicks says. “I can’t thank him enough for what he did, because that ultimately set me up for the rest of my football career.”

The following season was memorable for its immense peaks and valleys. The lowest point came in week three against Calgary, when Gill went down with a torn ACL and was gone for the year.

Aside from being an emotional leader, Gill was also an invaluable anchor at defensive tackle on a strong front four that also featured current Saints defensive lineman David Onyemata. With Gill injured, Hicks was forced to step in against Calgary’s future CFLers Sean McEwen and Sukh Chungh.

“Normally you had guys on the field like Dave who would beat [the opposing offensive line] down on the field and then I would come in when they were tired and still be able to manage, because yeah I might be a little bit slower, but they’re tired so I can keep up. But now it’s full-boar and we’re going.”

While Hicks was nervous, he also treated the injury as his chance to “get going.” He was a mainstay on the line for the duration of the season, which culminated in a Hardy Cup victory and trip to the national semi-final against the eventual Vanier Cup champion Montreal Carabins.

Injury and return home

If 2014 was a career highlight for Hicks, then the following year was surely a lowlight. He tore his meniscus in spring camp, and ended up having to get surgery, putting him out for the entire season. During this process, he also began to have second thoughts about wanting to be in school.

“I definitely hit a low. To me, I’d never had an injury like that, and I think it got to my mind a lot,” he says.

“The 2015 season came around and it was just hard. It was hard not being able to play and still having to be at all the football functions. It definitely took a state on my mind and I just didn’t want to do school anymore, I just sick of it. Football was starting to not become fun anymore and I needed to get away, get back home and refocus.”

Hicks wasn’t alone in his struggles. Fellow Bison Jamel Lyles was also at a personal crossroads and had suggested to him that playing junior football back in his home province of B.C. might be a good option. Not long afterwards, both players were members of the Westshore Rebels in the British Columbia Football Conference. Christian Krause and Lerenzo Ihanza, both former Bisons, also made the decision to join the Rebels, along with numerous other players from different U SPORTS programs across the country.

“[Westshore] stuck out more because of the guys that were going there, and I thought wow, we’re going to make a powerhouse at this place,” Hicks says.

He wasn’t wrong. The Rebels went from 2-8 in 2015 to 8-1-1 in 2016 and a trip to the national championship. The following season they went 9-1. Hicks was also named a conference all-star in both of his seasons with the team.

Hicks after winning the Cullen Cup with Westshore in 2016. Photo by Jessica Lenz.

“I became that vocal leader on the team, but that’s just who I am,” he says. “It was so much easier to be able to do that, because I had guys like Jamel out there and guys like [Christian] CK [Krause]. They already knew who I was. I didn’t feel like I had to prove myself in order for people to listen to me.”

Re-commitment to Manitoba

Immediately following the 2017 season, Hicks had doubts as to whether his football career was going to continue, due to both his body as well as a lack of interest from university programs.

“Teams weren’t really talking to me after that second season,” he says. “I didn’t know if they were wondering if I was going to be going back to Manitoba or if I was done playing football.”

Around three weeks later, the calls started to come in though. It came down to Regina or Manitoba, but ultimately Hicks chose to return to the place that he was already familiar with, along with former teammates such as Lyles – who had re-joined the Bisons the year prior – as well as quarterback Scott Borden Jr, who committed in mid-December.

“All my friends from Westshore, this brotherhood that we had built, if we can move something like this into the young, talented team at Manitoba, the Canada West is definitely in for a surprise,” he says.

“No doubt about it, if we can get the recruits that we’re still trying to work on from my team, Manitoba will definitely be dangerous.”

While Hicks is stoked to be returning to the university ranks, he also has his sights set on the CFL. He was a participant in the 2017 Western Regional Combine, and was able to gauge where he needed to be at physically in order to reach the pros.

Hicks (R) and former Rebel teammate/Manitoba native Jeremie Drouin (L) pose during the 2017 CFL Regional Combine. Photo provided by Kent Hicks.

“I realize that I have the potential to play at the next level and last year was definitely a learning curve to see where I needed to be,” he says.

“I’m going to play football for these two years at the University of Manitoba to get a CFL career out of it. I’ve worked so hard my whole life to have that opportunity and Manitoba is a place where I can do that.”

Hillary has high expectations for himself, Rifles teammates

By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)

Feature photo by: Matthew Hamilton

Growing up, it’d be safe that say that Donovan Hillary’s life was dictated by football.

“In high school, football just totally took over my life,” the linebacker says.

“I was hitting the gym at the night at Acceleration Performance, and just trying to do
any camp that I could. I was just so determined to be good at this sport. I loved
football so much.”

Originally picking up the sport at age 12, Hillary quickly developed into one of the
province’s best defensive prospects. He was a member of Team Manitoba’s U16
roster in 2011, as well as the U18 roster in both 2012 and 2013.

Interestingly, during the provincial team process, Hillary was always moved from
his natural linebacker spot to defensive end – and in one instance to defensive tackle
– which he feels made him a more well-rounded and versatile player.

At the high school level, Hillary was nothing short of spectacular. He won a junior
varsity title with the River East Kodiaks in grade 10, and was also named the JV
Defensive Player of the Year. Two years later, he would receive the same
recognition, but at the AAA level after amassing 96 tackles in a season – a record
that still holds to this day in the Winnipeg High School Football League.

Hillary during his time with Team Manitoba. Photo by hudl.ca

“Being a middle linebacker, it’s easy to see those inflated stats,” he says. “You’re
really in the middle of the action all the time. I like to treat [the accolades] as team
awards, but at the same time, I think they are kind of a testament to the hard work
that I put in.”

Beginning at age 16, Hillary also started participating in the Winnipeg Rifles spring
camps, in order to up his game even further.

“I wanted to be against the best competition, just to get that experience,” he says. “I
was pretty driven in terms of elevating my game.”

Hillary’s hard work didn’t go unnoticed, as entering grade 12 he was garnering
attention from universities all across Canada. He ultimately chose to attend Queen’s
University in Kingston, Ontario.

“For me, I wanted to be in the most competitive conference, and that’s in Ontario,”
he says. “I find Ontario is where you see the greatest athletes coming out of.”

Hillary’s first training camp in 2014 was one of “the most grueling experiences”
he’d ever taken part in. It was two weeks full of nonstop film and practice, and after
just two days, he’d already lost 14 pounds of water weight.

Because of his time with various provincial teams however, Hillary got used to the
up-tempo practices relatively quickly. He also began to hone his game even more,
thanks to in-depth film study and an increased emphasis on the mental side of sport.

“You just go over every single detail – every single rep you watch in film,” he says. “It
was the most interesting thing, seeing how much I was growing as an athlete
through the Queen’s program.”

Despite his improvement on the gridiron, Hillary was having significant issues
off of it.

For example, he had trouble finding a job for the summer when he came back home,
as employers didn’t want to hire someone that they knew was going to be leaving
halfway through August.

In his second year, his grades were also affected by his rigorous football schedule. It
was this discovery that helped prompt his decision to come home for 2016, as he
was at the stage in his life where he was trying to put an increased emphasis on his
future career goal of being a high school teacher.

“For me, I dedicated so many hours to football throughout high school and at
Queen’s. I think one of the driving factors for me coming back was actually just
scaling that back a little bit.”

When Hillary returned home, he knew that he still wanted to play football, but also
needed to have more time for school and work. Cue the Winnipeg Rifles, the same
team that he’d practiced against when he was in high school. With the junior football
schedule being a bit less demanding, Hillary was able to balance his life more
accordingly.

Hillary (51) helps provide a block for Rifles running back Micheal Ritchott. Photo by Matthew Hamilton.

The 2016 season didn’t go quite as planned for the Rifles, as turmoil within the club
hindered their progress. The following year however, the squad rallied around each
other. They finished the regular season with four wins, and went blow-for- blow
with the eventual national champion Saskatoon Hilltops in the conference semi-
final.

“Coming into that playoff game, we were determined to not let [Saskatoon] have
anything. I think you saw that. We definitely gave Saskatoon the best competition
throughout that entire playoff process,” Hillary says.

“It’s too bad that we couldn’t pull out the win, but I think, towards the end, you
definitely saw what Rifles football was all about.”

Individually, Hillary was nothing short of dominant. He finished 2017 with 78 total
tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. With this coming season
being his last year of junior football eligibility, he’s hoping to end things in style with his teammates.

“As a team, I think we definitely feel that we’ve got a shot this upcoming year. “We’re
really excited for what’s to come.”

Samson Abbott: From soccer player to football star

Samson Abbott went to St. Paul’s High School in grade nine with the intention of being the team’s star soccer player. It’s funny how things turn out sometimes.

Abbott had participated in soccer since he was four years old, but had never played a down of football. That is, until grade nine, when he was approached to play on the junior varsity team for the Crusaders.

“I was about 6’1” when I was in grade nine, so I was a pretty tall kid,” he says. [The St. Paul’s coaching staff] asked me if I wanted to play offensive line. I did that, and honestly I didn’t like it very much, so I went up next year and tried defensive line. I liked that a lot more.”

The rest, as they say, is history – thanks in part to Abbott’s rugby coach at St. Paul’s, who, while on a trip to Dallas in grade 10, convinced him to give up his soccer ventures in order focus on the gridiron, where he was a growing star.

“[The rugby coach] looked over at me and said ‘Sam, you’re not a soccer player. Look at you man, you’re about the heaviest soccer player in your league by about 40 pounds.’”

Abbott enjoyed a successful run in grades 11 and 12 as a member of the vaunted AAA Crusaders squad. The team went a combined 20-0, including two provincial championships. But Abbott was slightly hindered in the recruiting process early on, as he was cut from the provincial team in grade 11, and, after making Team Manitoba the following year, had to bow out due to an injury a few weeks before the start of the Canada Cup.

Abbott during his time with the St. Paul’s Crusaders. Photo by Trevor Hagan.

Thankfully, his AAA head coach Stacy Dainard put in a good word with a number of schools, and it didn’t take much for teams across Canada to become interested in Abbott’s services. He also got some exposure from Recruit Ready, which is widely regarded as one of the best all-year round football training programs in the country.

Abbott was contacted by programs all across Canada as well as North Dakota and North Dakota State in the NCAA, but opted to settle on Alberta for the 2014 season. The first conversation he had with the recruiter from the U of A came over the phone at the end of the 2013 provincial championship, and at first, he thought it was a joke.

“I thought I was getting prank called by my friends.”

“I had never played football before high school and coach Dainard had sort of hinted that I may be getting some calls from people but I never really took him seriously, because, again I’d missed Canada Cup and the year before that I’d been cut from the team. All along the way, I’d had better football players than me in my years at St. Paul’s.”

Nonetheless, Abbott’s talent level was hard to ignore, and he continued to prove this fact during his time with the Golden Bears. As a redshirt, he gained valuable experience playing against Alberta’s number one offence, which included 2017’s Hec Crighton winner Ed Ilnicki. The following two years he made his presence felt as a standout on special teams, and also led the team in sacks as a rookie in 2015. He also enjoyed a small stint with Alberta’s wrestling team – winning a bronze medal in his first and only tournament.

Abbott (first left) poses for a picture with a few fellow engineering students/teammates during his time with the Golden Bears. Photo by Amber Bracken.

By the end of the 2016 season however, Abbott knew he needed to come back home.

“I had family in Manitoba at a lot of different stages of their life,” he says. “I talked to my parents, and they just felt like they’d like me home. And I wanted to come home, so I let the U of A know that I wouldn’t be coming back.”

As someone who spends a fair bit of time in the gym, Abbott hit things off pretty quickly with Bison football strength and conditioning coach Cole Scheller upon his return home. Seeing the facilities as well as the dedicated training program made his decision to commit to the team a relatively easy one.

“I absolutely love working with Cole and the gym here is amazing,” he says. “As a guy who loves to work out a lot, I came in on my visit when I was coming back and saw that, and I knew I made the right choice.”

Abbott had to sit out the 2017 U SPORTS season due to transfer rules, and chose to play for the Winnipeg Rifles of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). He continued to train with the Bisons both before the Rifles season began, as well as after it ended, however.

Abbott’s time playing in the CJFL was memorable. His five sacks led the team and was just one short of first in the Prairie Football Conference. The Rifles went 4-4 in the regular season before losing a tightly fought battle in the conference semi-final to the eventual national champion Saskatoon Hilltops.

Despite the result, Abbott enjoyed his time with Winnipeg, stating that it was a nice shift from an Alberta program that had struggled to find the win column during his three years, going from 3-5 in 2014, to 2-6 in 2015, and 1-7 in 2016.

“I think the big benefit for playing junior, is just playing,” he says.

“I’m the happiest I’ve been in three years playing games and being competitive in them. That’s huge. I think it’s pretty easy to forget why you like football when you’re always losing. And to go from a team like Alberta, to a team where you’re a big part of it and you contribute a lot and you’re always in games, that’s big.”

Looking ahead to the 2018 season, Abbott is more motivated than ever. The engineering student knows exactly where his strengths lie and he’s looking forward to finally strapping on the pads with his hometown team.

“First things first I just want to contribute. I’m a pretty big guy and I move pretty well for how big I am, and that lends itself to pass rushing and it lends itself to special teams, which are two things I think I do pretty well.”