WHSFL Senior Bowl 2017 – Boyd’s legacy lives on

This year’s Winnipeg High School Football League Senior Bowl will be held on Saturday, May 13^th at Investors Group Field. Every year two teams are named in honor of past WHSFL alumni. This year the teams were named after Corey Kapilik, and the late Kevin Boyd.

Corey Kapilik was a former player in the WHSFL, and then later went to start the Miles MacDonell Buckeyes football program.

Kevin Boyd was a founder of the Westman Youth Football Association and had coached at Crocus Plains High School in Brandon, Manitoba for 23 years until he passed away last year. On hand to talk about Kevin’s legacy was the President of the WYFA, Blaine Moroz and Kevin’s widow, Jordana Boyd.

Blaine Moroz mentioned that Kevin would always tell his players that the score on the clock did not matter at the end of the day, it’s the decisions that we make.  Kevin had an unbelievable passion for football and was a players’ coach.

In honor of Kevin Boyd, Blaine and the WFYA are building a home for football in Brandon in Kevin’s name. Boyd Stadium has already secured 4 square acres to start constructing 2 full sized football fields. The Westman Youth Football Association was started in 2000, and has grown by an average of 20% over each of the last 5 seasons.

The players of each team are excited to face each other one last time, Joshua Robinson of Team Boyd mentioned, “One more game to go up against them as we go our own ways.”

Joshua Robinson has been solid for the Sturgeon Heights Huskies at the defensive back position all year. Joshua has a goal for Saturday’s game, he said, “At least one interception a game, that’s been my goal this year.”

I asked Joshua what the WHSFL has meant to him. “It’s basically meant everything,” replied Joshua. “When I’m not doing anything else, I’m playing football. Coming up from club football to high school it’s really put on a different personality to me, making me a better person and football player on and off the field.”

The WHSFL has been a huge part of Jalen Burley’s life from Team Kapinik as well. “It’s almost became a lifestyle,” said Jalen. “I’m excited to play my last game and show what I’ve learnt the past 4 years.”

Vincent Massey’s standout also has a little bit of nerves heading into this game knowing that it’s his last game in the league, Jalen added,  “It’s a bad feeling, I’m not sure how to explain it,”

The Senior Bowl will be Jalen’s last football game in the city before he heads to St.Fx in August to start the next chapter of his football career.

Kickoff for this year’s Senior Bowl is set for 10 a.m. at Investors Group Field, tickets are $5.