A Drumheller Titans coach will be leading a select team of Alberta high school football players to take on British Columbia.
Ron Laprise says that All Pro Camps is in the midst of introducing an Alberta-B.C. football all star game, or “Border Bowl” to showcase the talents of players from rural areas. He will be coaching the inaugural Alberta team and it may feature some top Drumheller talent.
Right now, he is assembling a coaching staff and setting up tryouts. Fellow Titan coach Ken Fournier was selected as the team's defensive coordinator. The first tryout for the Alberta team will be in Sherwood Park on February 22, in Airdrie on February 23, and on February 24, in Drumheller. This will coincide with a Media Day.
“From the top 100 kids from those three tryouts, we will select the top 45 players who are going to be in B.C.,” said Laprise.
The first Alberta-B.C. Border Bowl will be at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna on May 11. All Pro Camps already hosts a of couple Border Bowls in Eastern Canada.
It will feature the best Grade 10 and 11 players from the rural communities.
Laprise said the game is not affiliated with Alberta Football, which annually hosts the Senior Bowl for top prospects. The Border Bowl fills a gap to allow players from smaller schools in rural areas to get exposure.
“It gives rural kids a legitimate shot at being seen,” said Laprise. “There are a lot of kids who have the ability to go on, but they don’t get seen, they don’t have that chance.”
In its first year, Laprise said the major goal is just to make sure the game goes off without a hitch. As the move forward the event will grow to include possible a banquet. In the future, they are planning to have the Border Bowl games for pee-wees, bantam and senior teams. Next season the game will be in Alberta.
