With a new head coach and a roster of veteran players, the Jasper Glaciers are hedging their bets that they'll do well again this year.
Since mid-August the six-a-side football team has been preparing for the season ahead, running plays and getting back into shape.
“It's a good group of boys, they're very talented,” said Chuck MacKinnon, the team's new head coach.
“They're going to do well. They have the capability to win it all, there's no doubt.”
MacKinnon comes to Jasper as a level-four football coach with 30 years of football experience. He has previously coached in Hinton and most recently spent time coaching a 12-man football team in Saskatchewan.
“I'm very impressed with the boys,” he said. “I'm very demanding and there have been no issues. They've done everything they've been asked, they're reporting early and they're working well together.”
Jake Delorme, a veteran player with the team, echoed his coach’s comments.
“Everybody's working hard,” he said during practice.
Delorme said the most dedicated team will have the best shot at winning this year's championship.
“Everybody's got to work as a team, no single players.”
The team's first game of the season is an away game on Sept. 10 against the Buck Mountain Mustangs, a team the Glaciers beat in the playoffs last year.
“They're a pretty solid team, about middle of the pack, so we should come out with a win, but that's only if we work hard,” said Delorme, who was one of three Glacier players selected to join the North All Stars team last year.
He said the Glaciers will have to use their running game and get key blocks if they want to walk away with a win.
The team's first home game is on Friday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. against the Hinton Wolfpak from Harry Collinge High School.
Jasper's team boasts players from both Jasper Junior/Senior High School and École Desrochers.
Last year the team finished first in the western division, winning five out of six of its regular season games, but lost in the semi-finals against the Rimbey Spartans who went on to win the championships.
MacKinnon said about two thirds of the team is made up of returning players.
“We're a little light on Grade 9s and 10s,” he said, explaining there are only two Grade 9s and two Grade 10s on the team this year.
Assisting MacKinnon this year is Aaron Parcels, the team's offensive coach, and Jeff Wadsworth, the team's defensive coach.
Glaciers Game Schedule:
Thursday, Sept. 10 away game vs. Buck Lake
Friday, Sept. 18 home game vs. Hinton
Friday, Sept. 25 away game vs. Edson
Friday, Oct. 2 home game vs. Breton
* all games start at 4 p.m.
** two more games are still to be scheduled.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
