Huskies ready to scrimmage after 30 year break

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After an absence of 30 years, high school football returned to Lac La Biche this fall and, yes, after a three-decade break the team looked a little rusty at times this season.

The J.A. Williams High School Huskies are just wrapping up their first season in Alberta's Wheatland high school league.

Half of the team is made up of Aboriginal athletes who live in the town or in neighboring metis settlements or First Nations. And even though this was the first time any of them had ever played in an organized league, the players said their first season has been a blast, despite the fact that they lost every game in the regular season.

They may lack the experience of more seasoned teams, but the young Williams high rookies are packing a lot of heart. That spirit is what drives them.

Speak with the players and none of them think their losing streak is a negative thing. They all looked to the positives of playing in their first ever season.

"It's for the fun and to get to know the sport," said defensive tackle Parker Cardinal, from the Kikino Metis Settlement.

Cardinal, a Grade 10 student, said his first season on the grid iron has been "an excellent experience."

His fellow defensive tackle and Kikino neighbor Travis White said the best thing about playing on the team is simply the opportunity to play and learn.

"We get to go to some new places and to experience some new things," said White, a Grade 9 student.

But don't get the wrong idea. They don't do this just for the education and geography lesson. These guys like the physical contact of the game. The team is quickly becoming known as a hard-hitting crew. White said the full contact is one of the best parts of the game.

"We have permission to hit," he said with a grin.

In many Aboriginal communities, the choices for recreation are limited. So when he heard about football, White thought it was a great opportunity.

"We don't get too many chances to experience new things," he said.

Defensive halfback John Yellowknee is also happy to see a new sport in town. It's always been hockey in the winter and baseball in the summer, he said. Football is something new to try.

"I can make something of myself out there - plus, I can't skate," he said.

The Grade 11 student would like to continue playing football. Unfortunately, next season Yellowknee will be too old to play in the league.

But that isn't deterring him. Yellowknee is planning to continue his education and try out for a team at the collegiate level.

"I'll just have to wait until I go to university, I guess," he said.

Huskies coach Frank Collins said the new football program offers team members many things, including a higher regard for schooling.

"There were a couple of the guys at this point last year who were expelled from school already," he said. "But is football their savior? We'll just have to wait and see, but the game is definitely teaching them a lot."

The game teaches kids to follow instructions, to work with each other and to push themselves, he said.

Collins, a former University of Alberta Golden Bear offensive tackle, said there are two main things that have impressed him about his players: their spirit and their hitting abilities. These qualities are encouraging, especially with the team's dismal record in the standings. But just give them a little more time, he said.

"I had great athletes, but they're not football players yet. But they did show me they aren't quitters."

Despite having no wins, the Huskies will still be in the play-offs when the seven team league wraps up the regular season. That's only because every team makes it into the post-season. The players and the coaching staff have a healthy attitude about it. They'll play the play-offs just like they played the regular season games - for the experience.

Everybody on the club is looking ahead to where the experience they gain this year will take them next season.

Cardinal is really looking forward to seson number two because he now knows that heart and spirit won't be a problem. He said the team just needs the experience under its belt. Then it will start putting up some numbers in the win column.