Finding strength

Cougars standout commits to CWUAA team

As his high school football career comes to an end, Notre Dame Cougars offensive lineman Joe McQuay looks to his family – particularly his father – for support.

Joe McQuay

Position:
Offensive Line (Right Guard/Tackle)

Height/Weight:
6’5 270 lbs

Teams:
Notre Dame Cougars (high school)
Prairie Fire (midget)
Notre Dame Junior Cougars (bantam)
Red Deer Steelers (peewee)

Commitment:
Alberta

Class:
2014

   

For Red Deer offensive lineman Joe McQuay, football began with the peewee Steelers, where he played for three seasons before moving up to bantam and Notre Dame Junior Cougars.

The first game of his grade 9 bantam season was particular memorable for Joe, but not because of what happened on the field. The previous summer, his father had been diagnosed with a serious illness.

“They thought we were going to lose him,” Joe recalls. “That first game back he was there to watch and following the game I remember the hug I have him after.”

Joe’s father is one of the biggest influences in his life to this day.

“He’s my motivation in this sport to push my way forward through the hard times,” Joe says. “I can fight through anything with family close by.”

In 2010, Joe played for the Zone 4 Parkland team in the Alberta Summer Games.

“It was the first team I tried out for, so just the competitive nature behind it all was new to me and I enjoyed it,” he says. “Playing against the province was a great experience.”

The following year, Joe started high school, suiting up for Red Deer’s Notre Dame Cougars. He was a league All-Star all three years of high school, and also played for the Prairie Fire Midget team in the spring, where he earned the league’s All-Star nod twice more.

This past summer, Joe travelled to Moncton, New Brunswick to represent Team Alberta in the 2013 Football Canada Cup. Though Team Alberta would go on to take home the silver medal after a hard-fought defeat at the hands of Team Quebec in the final game, it was the semi-final match-up against Team Ontario that stands out most vividly in Joe’s memory.

“Everyone ranked Alberta below Ontario,” he says, describing how most fans thought Team Ontario would have an easy game. “I love being an underdog and on the national stage made it that much better.”

“That game was the most hard-earned win I’ve ever been in.”

Joe has now completed his final season with the Notre Dame Cougars. Despite a disappointing finish, he says he will miss the sense of family that was created as, next year, he will be moving on to the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

“[Coach] Morris came after me hard and I just loved what he brings to the table,” says Joe.  “His new philosophy is going to show change in that program.”

Joe also noted that being able to stay fairly close to home influenced his decision as well. Alongside football, Joe will be working toward a degree in Education, with the eventual goal of teaching math and physical education.

As he moves forward Joe says he is looking forward to “starting another chapter with a brand new football family and the higher-caliber play.”