SPARTANS, TIMBERWOLVES CONCLUDE INAUGURAL SEASON SATURDAY

Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer
Andrew Rafuse kicks off for the Summerside Waterwise Spartans during a P.E.I. Bantam Tackle Football League game at Eric Johnston Field in Summerside. Also in the photo is Spartan Bransen Mayne.

Staff ~ The Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE – It’s down to one game for the Summerside Waterwise Spartans and Cornwall Timberwolves as they get set to battle in the Championship Bowl of the P.E.I. Bantam Tackle Football League on Saturday.

Game time at Eric Johnston Field in Summerside is 3 p.m. The Consolation Bowl between the Souris Wildcats and Charlottetown Privateers will precede the Spartans-Timberwolves’ game at 12:30 p.m.

This is the inaugural season for the P.E.I. bantam league, which provides an opportunity for players aged 13 to 15 to play tackle football.

“Kent MacDonald (Souris), Terry Allen (Charlottetown) and Todd Williams (Cornwall) have done a great job in their communities organizing their teams, financing and putting in the volunteer hours to get this league off the ground,” said Spartans general manager and head coach John Turner. “Hats off to those guys. Without their efforts, there would be no league for the kids.

“We are all in it for the kids and the love of the game, and hopefully the league will continue to grow into other communities in the near future.”

Grades 7 to 9

Football P.E.I. is hoping that eventually the bantam league will move into a Grades 7-to-9 league and take on a 10-man tackle format, noted Turner.

“Kent MacDonald (Souris), Terry Allen (Charlottetown) and Todd Williams (Cornwall) have done a great job in their communities organizing their teams, financing and putting in the volunteer hours to get this league off the ground. Hats off to those guys. Without their efforts, there would be no league for the kids. We are all in it for the kids and the love of the game, and hopefully the league will continue to grow into other communities in the near future.” – Spartans general manager and head coach John Turner

“Money and coaching is the biggest obstacle for most communities in getting started,” said Turner. “We started small (6 man) to keep our costs down ($12,000), and it has worked out very well for our first year.

“Personally, I would like to thank our major sponsor, Waterwise, and all our player sponsors who have helped make this possible.”

The bantam league also helps develop players for the P.E.I. Tackle Football League.

“Ultimately, you want the kids to have fun, but at the same time you want to develop their skills so they can move on to a higher level,” offered Turner. “I know, just from our roster, there are 10 players that with two more years of football with the (Summerside) Clippers could play university ball down the road. That would be great.

“There is a lot of talent here on P.E.I., and there is no reason why we cannot graduate seven to 10 players a year to university programs. This league is one step in the right direction to achieve that goal.”