Stettler’s minor football association will mark an important milestone this year as bantam Cougars prepare for their tenth season.
With minor football registration scheduled to take place tomorrow, Thursday, March 24, Mike Roach, president of the association and head coach for the Cougars team says he is looking forward to the next season with a lot of confidence.
“Over the past nine seasons, the Cougars have appeared in four league championship games and three provincial semi-final games,” said Roach.
“The peewee Panthers program is entering its eighth season. They have been league champions at least three times and also have a provincial championship to their credit.”
Coach Roach believes that with some experienced players joining from the ranks of peewee Panthers, and some new coaching staff joining the team management, the Cougars will be a force to be reckoned with when the minor football season starts next August.
“The Cougars will have three newly certified coaches joining the staff this year,” said Roach.
Kalen Volker and Zach Gordon are former Cougar players and graduates of the Wm. Hay High School’s Wildcat program.
“Kalen will work with linebackers and Zach will help with running backs,” Roach said.
“Darren Benson is a graduate of the Hanna Hawks program and he will work with quarterbacks and running backs.”
Alongside coach recruitment, the minor football association has spent the off season to check and renew some equipment, too.
As for Thursday’s registration program, Roach said it would take place at the music room of the Stettler Elementary School.
The peewee program is open to players born in 1999 and 2000. The bantam program is open to players born in 1996, 1997 and 1998, but no player from the bantam team can be entering Grade 10 in the fall.
Coach Roach said despite a small increase this year, Stettler minor football association fees remains among the lowest of all similar organizations in the province. The fees cover spring and fall camps, Football Alberta insurance, all equipment except for cleats, and bussing to all away games, a year end banquet and awards.
Roach said, in cooperation with KidSport, minor football association had been working to ensure that anyone who wanted to play football has had that opportunity.
For further information, Mike Roach can be contacted at 403 742-8753.