Seven members of the Drumheller Titans have been picked for an Alberta Select team to play in a Border Bowl versus British Columbia.
Recruiting for the team made of Grade 10 and 11 players from rural areas wrapped up with its final tryout in Drumheller on Sunday, February 24. About 27 players came out to this final tryout to make a spot on the 45-player roster.
Head coach of the Alberta Select team Ron Laprise told The Mail, Gage Berdahl, Thomas Borst, Spencer Fournier, Alan Lister, Joey Samoleski and Steven Robertson all made the cut. The lone Grade 10 player from Drumheller selected is Tracker Robinson.
This tryout followed two others; one in Edmonton on Friday night and one in Calgary on Saturday. More than 100 across the province tried out.
“It was quite an event,” said Laprise.
He said players brought unparalleled intensity.
“The kids brought it, they knew they were not trying out for a high school team, this is the real deal, this is a provincial team. And the talent level was amazing,” said Laprise.
He said the feedback was very positive.
“The number one thing we heard was ‘thank-you’ for giving rural kids a chance,” said Laprise.
The first Alberta/BC Border Bowl is on May 25 and will be hosted in Kelowna British Columbia. They will be playing CFL rules, but with four downs in B.C. Next year when the competition is in Alberta they will play three downs.
The team will have its first practices on May 3-5.
Laprise said they have learned a lot in putting together this first Alberta/B.C. Border Bowl and next year are planning to host a Bantam game as well as a game for the Grade 10 and 11 talent. They are also looking at hosting the tryouts in Lethbridge, Cochrane, Edmonton and Drumheller.
