Q: What is the game plan for stopping tournament favourites and perennial powerhouses, Team U.S.A?
A: We haven’t even thought about the U.S yet, were only focused on today’s game against Sweden.
Q: Who are the standout players on offence and defence that will have big in-game impacts?
A: I am not sure yet. The players arrived 7 days ago, we have had 5 days of training camp. Players are still finding their identity and we will continue to evaluate and find out. We picked the 45 best players Canada has to offer, they all have a chance to start and make an impact.
Q: What are your teams biggest strengths? How will that translate into success for Team Canada?
A: Right from day one, we have been been pushing a high tempo offence. We want to control the clock and dictate the tempo of the game. On defence, our attacking style will be successful.
Q: So far, if any, What do you see as Canada’s weaknesses?
A: I can’t really tell what what they will be until we play. Everything at this point is about correcting so you can execute on the field at a high level.
Q: Do you have a specific game plan today against Team Sweden?
A: We’re not concerned about Sweden. We want to dictate the game and have them make adjustments. With sound fundamentals, we’ve prepared our team to line up against anybody. The priority wasn’t about scouting, our priority was getting our team ready to play.
Q: What’s the atmosphere like in the dressing room, on the field, in meetings? How pumped up are these guys?
A: These kids are dialed in, they understand what it takes. We have set the bar high and the players have bought in. We are in the mecca of football here in Austin, Texas. The kids understand the importance of the tournament. From a mental standpoint, the guys have been on task 100%. We run a tight schedule. The #1 goal of this tournament is to leave here with a gold medal, But also better football players.
Q: Do you have a starting 11? Or will you figure that out as the tournament progresses?
A: I want them all to get a chance to represent their country and to play at the international level.
Q: Canada’s participation in tournaments like this show a bright future of Canadian football. Where do you see football in Canada progressing in the next 5-10 years. Will we ever reach the level of competition and skill coming out of the USA?
A: How we represent here will set a stage for teams to come. We don’t have an olympics, but we do have a world championship. This is as close to that as it comes. The bar is set high, this is the world stage. When these players take that stage today at 5, they are not only representing themselves. They are representing Team Canada, our citizens and their families. We dont have the same culture for football here that they do in the U.S.A. We are known as a hockey country. But this is the 100th CFL Season, we’ve been around for way longer than the Superbowl. We have a strong foundation, and its only getting better. Funding will help with player development, but we also need to start at the grassroots level as well. We need a long term development model for the Junior National team, similar to that of junior hockey.
Thank you Coach Thorpe for that wonderful interview. Until next time….
Games will air on a live webcast on CanadaFootballChat.com at (http://www.canadafoo…/live_games.php).
Schedule (all times CST)
Saturday, June 30
9 AM
Panama vs. Austria
11:30 AM
Japan vs. France
5 PM
Canada vs. Sweden
8 PM
USA vs. American Samoa
Tuesday, July 3
5 PM
Loser JPN/FRA vs. Loser CAN/SWE
8 PM
Loser PAN/ AUT vs. Loser USA/ AMS
Wednesday, July 4
5 PM
Winner JPN/FRA vs. Winner CAN/SWE
8 PM
Winner PAN/ AUT vs. Winner USA/ AMS
Friday, July 6
5 PM
Seventh-Place Game
8 PM
Fifth-Place Game
Saturday, July 7
5 PM
Bronze Medal Game
8 PM
Gold Medal Game
FINAL 2012 Junior National Team roster
Quarterbacks
Will Finch / Burlington, ON
Dallon Kuprowski / Kanata, ON
Hugo Richard / St-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC
Running Backs
Christopher Amoah / Lachine, QC
Andreas Robinson / Dartmouth, NS
Mercer Timmis / Burlington, ON
Receivers
Regis Cibasu / Montréal, QC
Doug Corby / Burlington, ON
A’dre Fraser / Lawrencetown, NS
Tylor Henry / Camrose, AB
Alexandre Huard / Laval, QC
Alexandre Savard / Lorraine, QC
Ryan Smith / Sherwood Park, AB
Offensive Line
Kadeem Adams / Halifax, NS
Louis-Gabriel Beaudet / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Andrew Boisvert / Sherwood Park, AB
Lloyd Constant / Montréal, QC
Emilio Frometa / Sudbury, ON
Nathan Heide / Warman, SK
Erick Lessard / Sudbury, ON
David Knevel / Brantford, ON
Jean-Simon Roy / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Defensive Line
Edward Godin Gosselin / Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC
Quinn Horton / Winnipeg, MB
Jacob Leblanc / Halifax, NS
Clement Lebreux / Candiac, QC
Glen Joorisity / Deer Valley, SK
Adam Melanson / Kentville, NS
Charles Rémy-Sarrazin / Montréal, QC
Brett Wade / Regina, SK
Linebackers
Pierre-Luc Caron / Laval, QC
Tanner Doll / St. Albert, AB
Maxime Drolet / Québec, QC
Nicholas Easterbrook / Laval, QC
Jean-Gabriel Poulin / St-Nicolas, QC
John Rush / Port Robinson, ON
Marc-Antoine Varin / St-Hippolyte, QC
Defensive Backs
Keldyn Ahlstedt / Whitby, ON
Keegan Arnyek / Moose Jaw, SK
Tomy Duperron / Sherbrooke, QC
Khadim Mbaye / Laval, QC
Kevin McGee / Sherbrooke, QC
Rees Paterson / Sherwood Park, AB
Michael Schmidt / Calgary, AB
Kicker, Punter
Louis-Philippe Simoneau / Saint-Hyachinthe, QC
Coaching and Support Staff
Noel Thorpe / Head Coach
Warren Craney / Defensive Coordinator – Linebackers
Pat Boies / Offensive Coordinator
Gilles Lezi / Special Teams Coordinator- Running Backs
Michael Faulds / Quarterbacks
Alain Mainguy / Offensive Line
Kamau Peterson / Receivers
Brian Guebert / Defensive Line
Devin Murphy / Defensive Backs
Patrick Gendron / Athletic Therapist
Jean-Baptiste Laporte / Athletic Therapist
Jeremy Clouthier / Video Coordinator
Jacques Guilbault / Equipment manager
Elliott Richardson / Strength and Conditioning Coach
Players by Province:
Quebec – 20
Ontario – 9
Alberta – 6
Nova Scotia – 5
Saskatchewan – 4
Manitoba – 1
Photos courtesy of Pat Kuprowski
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
