OVFL Preview: Junior Varsity Myers Riders confident in new personnel

While championship glory barely eluded the JV Riders in 2011, the team welcomes a brand new coaching staff and slew of new recruits. Despite the overhaul, first year head coach Matt Kassner will be looking to build on last year’s success.

Though the Myers Riders’ junior varsity club fell only one win shy of a championship season in 2011 this year’s squad will bear very little resemblance to last season’s group.

With only eight returning players and a completely revamped coaching staff the Riders’ 2012 campaign will be characterized by newcomers on both the field and sidelines.

While a shakeup of that magnitude after a successful 2011 season may be somewhat surprising, rookie head coach Matt Kassner believes that a foundation, which will enable this year’s squad to build on last year’s successes, is firmly in place.

“Our new staff is rifled with current CIS players, Ex-CIS players, Ex- NCAA players and current and past head coaches from around Ottawa,” says Kassner. “I am extremely pleased with the quality of coaches we have on staff and I am grateful for their dedication and commitment to our JV team.”

Kassner, the Riders’ varsity team’s defensive coordinator for the past three seasons, elaborates: “Our coaching staff has a great mix of youth, experience and knowledge and we are all 100% dedicated to giving our players the best experience possible. Each coach on our staff takes their role very seriously and we all have high expectations for our players and team as a whole.”

The overhaul of staff will usher in a marked shift in coaching philosophy from 2011, a shift that Kassner claims will be characterized by adaptability and versatility.

“Our coaching staff strongly believes in adapting our schemes and systems to cater towards our opponent,” explains Kassner. “It is very possible that teams will see a completely different offense, defense and special teams from week to week.”

The ability to implement such a system is dependent on having the right personnel on the field, and Coach Kassner will be looking to get that makeup out of a group that is largely first year players.

The team will welcome a trio of first year quarterbacks in Dimitri Morand, Joseph Donnelly, and Liam MacDonald. In the group Kassner sees a “unique set of talents that we will utilize in our offense.”

The Riders are also hoping for contributions from rookie running back Julien Moore, who is already garnering attention from NCAA programs south of the border.

Of Moore, coach Kassner notes, “Julien’s speed, strength and athleticism make him a threat to score whenever he touches the ball.”

Defensively the Riders have added Kyrique Fletcher, a pass rushing defensive lineman, and Mitchell Henselwood, a first year linebacker that will be counted on to lead the team’s defensive unit.

In addition to the influx of first year talent that the team will largely identify with in 2012, the Riders will welcome back eight veterans.

Among the returnees is Griffin Harding, a dominant defensive lineman that Kassner terms “a natural born leader.”

Rejoining Harding on defense will be safety Liam Mellor, a DB that will be counted on as a playmaker this season.

Offensively, the team welcomes back wideouts Max Chainey and Riley Cressman, both of whom will be relied on to lead the team’s aerial assault.

Also returning on offense is center Will Johnson, who will be counted on for his leadership.

“Will is probably the hardest worker on our team and he gives 100% on every play,” says Kassner. “He knows what everyone needs to be doing on every play.”

Veteran leadership will certainly be a quality in high demand for this group of youngsters. Talent, on the other hand, is something that should be in abundance during the 2012 campaign.

“We will certainly be a young group,” divulges Kassner, “but I am confident in our player’s abilities and dedication to work as a team in order to have a successful season.”

And what is it that will characterize success for the Riders in 2012? According to Kassner, it will be the same thing that does it for every team.

“I think we have the same expectations and goal as the rest of the teams in our league, and that is to win the championship. Our end goal is to win the championship, but each week we will be taking the necessary steps in order to achieve that end result. At the end of the year only one team can win their last game and while that is a difficult task given the talent and coaching knowledge around the league; our team is dedicated to doing everything in our power to try and be that team.”