By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Ricard (far left) poses with high school teammate Brady Welburn, along with teammate and fellow Rifles alum Hayden Nellis (far right).
There’s no denying the impact that Elmwood High School had on Andrew Ricard, both on and off the field.
“I could look out the front door and I could see the back door of the high school,” the first-year member of the Calgary Dinos (fourth year of eligibility) says.
“I had options to go to other high schools, but I chose Elmwood because I felt that it was home. Being there I grew up as a football player but also a man. I grew a lot of character and built up a lot of myself.”
A standout defensive back, Ricard helped the Giants to their first-ever Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL) title in 2013, a come-from-behind 14-7 victory over the previously undefeated West Kildonan Wolverines in the Division 3 final.
The Transcona resident — a senior that season — was also named the division’s defensive player of the year.
Ricard (L) with teammate Brady Welburn (R) 
Ricard after winning the WHSFL Div 3 title.
Ricard chose to play junior football following high school, suiting up — and playing immediately — for the Winnipeg Rifles.
“When I was 18 I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I didn’t know what I wanted to take in school. If I would’ve went to school I feel like I would’ve wasted a bunch of money. I had those years in junior to figure out where I was in life and what I wanted to do in life.”
A proud five-year member of the Rifles, Ricard was a conference all-star last year and also a well-respected team captain.
His route to the University of Calgary — who snapped a 24-year Vanier Cup drought last month with a 27-13 win over Montreal — began in his third year with the Rifles in 2016, courtesy of board member Glen Scrivener.
Ricard had developed a strong relationship with Scrivener — a former Grey Cup champ and winner of the prestigious Tom Pate Award — who asked him about his long-term goals in the sport.
“[Scrivener] played with Wayne Harris and a few other coaches on the Dinos. My third year of Rifles he was asking me what I wanted to do, and if post-secondary football was something that I wanted to continue to pursue. I told him 100 percent.”
He kept putting in a good word for me. I told him I wanted to ride out my five years with the Rifles first before heading out west.”
When his junior football eligibility maxed out, Ricard headed to Calgary. The 2019 roster also included fellow WHSFL alum Hayden Nellis (defensive line, Dakota/Winnipeg Rifles), Niko DiFonte (kicker/punter, Oak Park Raiders) Josh Yanchishyn (defensive back. Dakota Lancers), Madison Spewak (defensive back, Dakota Lancers) and Jay-Ar Driedger (offensive lineman, Dakota Lancers).
Known for his high football IQ and tenacity, Ricard found a role for himself with the Dinos in his first U SPORTS season. He played in every contest, making his mark as a special teams demon on punt and kickoff — something he also did in high school, breaking the WHSFL division 3 record for special teams tackles in a season with 15 in 2011.
“A couple of weeks working with the coaches and a couple of weeks working with the starters getting rotated in, I picked it up real quick and found myself making a lot of plays,” he says.
“There’s always so much depth in every position and I expected that and I wanted to compete for a spot, I didn’t want to be given a spot. I knew what to expect before I came here. I knew it was going to be a battle all training camp long to earn a starting spot, but I found my role and just did it and hey, we came out Vanier Cup champs.”
Ricard will return to the Dinos in 2020, looking to remain as the top dog in an incredibly competitive Canada West conference. Regardless as to what happens going forward, he will proudly rep The ‘Wood.
“Everywhere I go I always represent Elmwood. That’s my school. I feel like the people in that school, the teachers, the coaching, my friends, they’re the ones that shaped me and pushed me to where I am today.”