CFLers heading to Sackville, NB: Argos, Als will help out with minor football training camp


The Toronto Argonauts are already making good on their promise to be the home team everybody can root for when they play the Edmonton Eskimos in Moncton’s Touchdown Atlantic game Sept. 26.

Argonauts running back Andre Durie and defensive tackle Étienne Légaré, along with defensive tackle Darrell Campbell of the Montreal Alouettes, will join Mount Allison University coach Kelly Jeffrey helping out at the Sackville Minor Football Association annual Spring Camp next week.

Read More: [URL]http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/1029425

The CFLers and coach Jeffrey will help local certified coaches from minor, high school, and university football for the annual event, which runs from May 7 to 16. About 70 young players are expected to attend the camp.

“We are excited about having professional players and coaches provide football skills programming for our young players in conjunction with local volunteers,” the Sackville Minor Football Association’s Ian McIntyre said.

“For a small town, young players receive high calibre instruction much like you would find in a major city. It is one of those rare opportunities for kids to come face-to-face with professionals.”

Toronto Argonauts President and CEO Bob Nicholson said, “the Argonauts are committed to building the game of football throughout Canada and we’re thrilled to support Sackville Minor Football Association at this year’s spring camp.”

“We’ll be making Moncton and its surrounding area our home for an entire week in September and starting immediately our goal is to become a part of the community,” he said.

“Fans can expect this to be the beginning of a powerful bond that we intend to build throughout the region through a variety of community and grassroots events over the coming months.”

Wray Perkin, a second-year student and manager for Mounties Football, formed connections with CFL player Darrell Campbell while working as an equipment assistant for the Montreal Alouettes last year. The idea to marry professionals with the local area football club had been in the works since Christmas.

Perkins said it’s not just about broadening the horizons of Sackville’s young football enthusiasts, but also about “uniting football players of every single level in Canada, from mosquito to professionals.”

The Sackville Minor Football Association provides all equipment excluding footwear and mouth guards to participants. The organization embraces an “everybody plays” policy and ensures boys and girls whose families cannot afford registration do not go without playing.

Registration takes place on April 26 and 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Tantramar Veterans’ Memorial Civic Centre. High school registration will take place at Tantramar Regional High School at various times on the 28th.

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

Leave a Reply