Football British Columbia’s under 18 team participating in the Football Canada Cup departed for Alberta yesterday. The team will have a 3-day camp at the University of Calgary before departing for Lethbridge on the 8th. The Team opens their tournament on Saturday agasint Team Manitoba. Here area few quotes from BC players and coaches:
COACH JAY PREPCHUK (Team BC Offensive Coordinator)
On having to adjust to Canadian rules football⦠(Note: BC High School Football plays American rules while BC Community Football plays Canadian rules)
βI think the guys in our camp in May certainly didnβt have the trouble adjusting with it. We do have a few players that have played Community football so they know what theyβre doing as far as the Canadian game is concerned.
βBut really it just comes down to executing – blocking and tackling and throwing the ball properly. It is a bit of an adjustment for them but when itβs all said theyβve just got to get out there and execute. Quarterbacks have to make their reads. Itβs going to be an adjustment definitely but itβs nice to have a few days in Calgary to get ready for it.β
On getting the team motivated for the start of the tournament on Saturday, July 9 versus Manitobaβ¦
βWhen you start talking about a Canadian championship and winning a gold medal, a lot of that motivation has to come internally. Itβs nice to have a few days in Calgary to get them in the mindset of playing football and playing competitive football and to mesh together.
βMotivation-wise I think these guys are the best athletes, theyβre the best football players in the province. Usually that motivation is innate and internal and weβre hoping that theyβll be pumped up and ready to go.β
QB MICHAEL CARNEY (St. Thomas More Knights)
On being named to Team BCβ¦
βItβs obviously an honour to represent the province especially as a quarterback. Thereβs not many of us so I feel pretty happy about that.β
On adjusting to playing Canadian rules footballβ¦
βItβs just a little bit of getting used to but itβll come together with practice. The more I practice with the team, the more I practice with the rules, itβll just jell and I probably wonβt notice the difference after too long.β
On if the coaching staff has indicated to him which quarterback will start the tournamentβ¦
βI think itβs whichever quarterbackβs playing best at the time will play. Thatβs the bottom line. We just want to win and thatβs the way it should be.β
REC JUSTIN SANVIDO (Vancouver College Fighting Irish)
On being named to Team BCβ¦
βIt feels really good actually just to represent your province. I feel honoured first of all just because you get chosen from a bunch of other kids and you know youβre one of the top (players) in your province.β
On the opportunity to represent British Columbia twice in July β first at the Football Canada Cup and later on at the national flag tournament in Nova Scotiaβ¦
βIβd like to think this one [Football Canada Cup] is a lot more important because this one will get me noticed.β
On if he can help bring a winning attitude to Team BC after capturing the BC High School Football Championship with Vancouver College Fighting Irish back in Decemberβ¦
βI hope so. I hope I can bring energy and leadership to this team and just try to get everyone pumped up so everyone knows weβre here to win.β
QB JORDAN DEVERILL (Mt. Douglas Rams)
On being named to Team BCβ¦
βItβs awesome. Iβm really excited for this experience to play with some of the best players across the province and across Canada and being coached by the best coaches in BC. Itβs going to be a good experience. Iβm excited.β
On adjusting to Canadian rules footballβ¦
βItβs definitely different. Itβs a little disadvantage at the beginning but weβve had practices together, weβre going to practice early in Calgary, so I think the team will pick it up pretty quick.β
On having four of his fellow Mt. Douglas Rams teammates on Team BCβ¦
βItβs awesome. Itβs good to have tons of your guys because first of all you donβt know everyone. Itβs nice to have your roots and to have other guys from your team experience what youβre experiencing.β
On if the coaching staff has indicated to him which quarterback will start the tournamentβ¦
βIβm not quite sure. I would do whatβs best for the team. The coaches havenβt told me anything about whoβs starting or anything. Mike Carneyβs a good quarterback and so is Tyler Green. All three of us are good quarterbacks and we should all get playing time Iβm sure.β
On his expectations in this tournamentβ¦
βWin gold.β
DB JORDAN PUGH (Nanaimo Redmen)
On how his background playing Canadian rules football will help him at this tournamentβ¦
βI think Iβll feel a lot more comfortable being able to play in this tournament because itβs how I play normally. Itβs not going to be a different game. Itβs going to be the same game I play at home.β
On if he has ever participated in a tournament of this natureβ¦
βIβve never been in something like this. Iβm just going to bring it my all and weβll see.β
DB DEION BAIN (WJ Mouat Hawks)
On his experience as being part of Team BC last yearβ¦
βIt was pretty good. I just wanted to see us win gold instead of getting a bronze.β
On how having experience at last yearβs tournament will help him this time aroundβ¦
βIt helps you prepare. You just know how itβs supposed to be.β
OL MASON WOODS (Terry Fox Ravens)
On how having experience playing Canadian rules football for a BC Community football team helped him at least yearβs tournamentβ¦ (Note: Prior to joining the Terry Fox Ravens in 2010, Woods played Community football with the Langley Mustangs)
βIt did help out a bit but going from Community to a provincial team thereβs a big speed jump so itβs not too much of a difference. But rules-wise it did help out a bit, mainly the yards difference.β
On his expectations for this yearβs tournamentβ¦
βGoing home with gold this time.β
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