By: Mike Still (@mikestill94)
Feature photo: From left, Jayden Engel, Zane Anderson and Gavin Reid will all play major roles for the Vikings in 2018. Photo by the Brandon Sun.
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 Vincent Massey Vikings.
Team: Vincent Massey Brandon Vikings
Head Coach: Mike Steeves, 10th year
Conference/Division: Gustafson Conference, Division 1
2017 Regular Season Record: 5-2
2017 Playoff Record: 2-1 (Lost to Oak Park in CTV Bowl)
The Vikings are moving up in the world, after a strong 2017 campaign that saw them advance all the way to the Division 2 championship. They’re one of two teams, along with Dryden, who will be playing one division up in the Gustafson Conference this year. Led by 10th year head coach Mike Steeves, Vincent Massey Brandon will look to make a name for themselves in the WHSFL’s top tier.
Offence: The Vikings will lean on a strong offensive line and run game in 2018. Protection up front will be dictated by Gavin Reed and and Robin Roberts. Reed has been a member of the provincial team the past two years, making the roster as a 15-year-old for the first time in 2017. Steeves describes him as a “big strong lineman and a solid leader.” Roberts is “a great character kid, who has fabulous effort and attitude,” according to Steeves.
Carrying the rock will be six-foot, 220 pound senior Zane Anderson. The former fullback — who was also a provincial team member this summer — is a load to bring down and also a strong blocker.
Defence: Steeves expects his linebacking corps to be a major force this season. Leading the charge is junior Jayden Engel, who played both linebacker and running back last year. He’ll do the same this year, and is looking to build off of his experience at this year’s Canada Cup.
Providing support will be fellow linebacker John Fisseha as well as senior halfback Cole Ferrier. Fisseha will be looking to build off a strong junior varsity career as he enters his junior season, while Ferrier, who is also an excellent hockey player, will anchor the secondary.
Short and long-term goals: As a team, Vincent Massey Brandon’s goals are “to improve each game and find success in the challenges we can overcome,” according to Steeves. He added that “football is a vehicle for us to develop pride, effort, commitment, teamwork, perseverance and character. We want to see these young men become better individuals with a high moral standard. That will be our focus.”