Spruce Grove – The St. Albert Storm did better than expected in Saturday’s season-opening midget spring league jamboree with a small squad and limited outdoor practices.
“We didn’t win a game but you know what? We were in every single game,” head coach Brian Clapp told his team of Grade 9, 10 and 11 players after the controlled scrimmages at Fuhr Sports Park. “We’ve got half our team here. We’re missing five linemen. We’re missing some key guys that will help us.
“All you guys played well today. The guys in Grade 9 and Grade 10, thanks for stepping up. It was a good solid effort.”
Third-year Storm veteran Jack Hanna was equally impressed.
“I was surprised. We did very well,” said the brawling Grade 11 right guard for the Bellerose Bulldogs. “I’m very happy with the Grade 9s. A lot of them were thrown into positions that they don’t know and they were able to step up and play and improve.”
The Storm finished 0-3-1 against the Parkland Predators, Edmonton Chargers, Millwoods Grizzlies and the Camrose-based Battle River Shock.
The controlled scrimmages consisted of 18 offensive plays per team, split six, six and six, starting at the 35-yard line going in.
Fumbles and interceptions were ruled dead and the ball went back to the 35 for the count to continue.
Blitzing wasn’t allowed and teams could line up a maximum of seven players in the box on defence.
“It was a hard-hitting day. Some of us will feel it for a while,” said Graeme Loerke, a Grade 11 middle linebacker and centre for the Paul Kane Blues. “It was fun. It was definitely exciting to see everybody start to come together as a team.”
This is Loerke’s third and final stint with the Storm.
“It’s my last shot to play with other players like this as one whole team so I want to have fun and play hard,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll win some games and if we all play like we can we’ll do good this year.”
Playing for the Storm helps Loerke prepare for Paul Kane’s spring camp and the upcoming high school season.
“There is in shape and football shape and just having six, seven games and a bunch of practices helps get you back into football shape and hitting again after a really long off season. It’s a good wake up for the season,” said Loerke, 17.
The Storm roster consists of players from all three St. Albert high schools, graduating Grade 9 bantams and representation from Morinville.
The majority of the players hail from Bellerose and Paul Kane. However, there is only one St. Albert High Skyhawk in the fold, a huge surprise considering previous Storm teams had numerous junior and senior Skyhawks in the line-up.
Hanna, 16, said there is a sense of pride for playing for an all-St. Albert team.
“I don’t care what school you’re from, if you’re coming to play Storm you’re playing for St. Albert and you’re representing St. Albert,” he said. “It’s not SACHS or PK or Bellerose or Grade 9, this is St. Albert Storm and that’s how we want it to be and that’s what it feels like it’s going to be this year. Everyone is meshing together and I think we’re going to have a great season.”
A condensed Capital District Minor Football Association schedule is tentatively slated to kick off this weekend, but the date, time and location of the Storm’s first game was unavailable at press time.
Last year the Storm were 1-4 in the Tier I and II division and their last game in the four-team double round-robin against Millwoods was cancelled. The Storm averaged 17 points per game and 28 against.
In the Tier II final the Storm beat Millwoods 34-14 to finish 2-4 overall, with both wins coming against Millwoods.
The Storm will huddle up in the league opener this weekend without Hanna, a medal contender at the cadet/juvenile wrestling championships starting Thursday in Saskatoon.
The six-foot-one, 270-pound Bulldog was awarded bronze at the recent Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association wrestling championships. The standout provincial-level rugby player competed in the 120-kilogram category after placing first at the Edmonton zone meet.
“I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did at provincials since I’m a second-year wrestler. Last year I went to provincials (after placing first at zones at 120 kg) and I didn’t win a match. This year I only lost twice. My last match against a kid from Medicine Hat (Matt Stenhouse) was a real battle,” Hanna said. “I was real proud of myself and my coach was really proud of me too. I was just really happy to bring a medal back to Bellerose and show people that Bellerose can compete at wrestling.”
THIRD DOWN: Teams not participating in the jamboree were Bonnyville, Fort Saskatchewan, West Edmonton Raiders, Edmonton Seahawks and Leduc Ticats.
Josh Dobbins, a Grade 11 Bulldog, is expected to start at quarterback for the Storm in the league opener.
