By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: Middle linebacker Brandon Palichuk will be a player to keep an eye on this year. Photo by Brandon Palichuk.
Over the next month, manitobafootballfeed will be previewing each of the 31 varsity teams battling for supremacy in the Winnipeg High School Football League, which kicks off its regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Below is a breakdown of the St. Norbert Celtics.
Team: St. Norbert Celtics
Head Coach: Adrian Huntley, 10th season
Conference/Division: Vidruk Conference, Division 2
2017 Regular Season Record: 4-3
2017 Playoff Record: 1-1 (Lost to West Kildonan in WHSFL Bowl)
For the first time, the St. Norbert Celtics will be playing in division 2, looking to build off of a 2017 campaign which saw them make it all the way to the WHSFL Bowl.
Offence: Versatility is the key word for the Celtics offence this season, with “a number of talented players returning,” according to head coach Adrian Huntley. Leading the way will be senior quarterback/receiver Curtis Junghans, who threw for 577 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Junior receiver Ryan Blanco, as well as fellow receiver Pacifique Jubilate are also players to keep an eye out for. The former had 208 yards and a major in 2017, while the latter is a dangerous two-way threat who had 14 tackles and an interception as a defensive back last year.
Defence: The them for the Celtics on defence will be “physicality.” Anchoring the team will be their linebacking corps, which includes junior Brandon Palichuk — who had 28.5 tackles and a fumble recovery a year ago — as well as senior Joe Benoit. The secondary will be led by Dawson Proskurnik, who had a strong showing in Team Manitoba U18 tryouts this summer.
Short and long-term goals: With the team moving up this season, Huntley’s short-term goal for St. Norbert is to “adjust to playing in the second division and to be competitive.” He added that “our long term goal is to establish our team as a competitive second division team annually.”