For the Drumheller Senior Titans this season, it’s good to be home.
This year the team has opted to leave the Rangeland League and play an exhibition schedule. The immediate impact of this decision is the team will be spending a lot more time on its home field, and they like it.
“We have six home games lined up this season so far,” said coach Ken Fournier. “I think that is as many as we had the last three years combined. We have been on the road for the last three years and this will be pretty nice to have some home games and build some school and town spirit.”
While having more home games is a bonus, the real advantage is that they will be better able to equip the team for the season.
“We decided to go exhibition so we are not facing teams with 60 player rosters. Last year we found it was a bit of a struggle, every time we took an injury, we would move a player to fill a spot and then we would have two spots with inexperienced players,” he said. “When you are a tier-four team and you have young guys on your roster in starting positions, and you are going against teams that are all Grade 12, it is very tough to balance. We want to get as many guys as you can on the field.”
The Titans are in the same boat with a number of other teams throughout the province who are looking for parity.
“Other schools want to play more tier appropriate teams so they can develop their young players as much as they can, which is what we are trying to do,” he said.
The official season began this week, and the players have been out practicing. Coach Fournier sees a lot of upside to this year’s squad.
“We have a lot of speed returning, we have some experience in a lot of skill spots, so that is nice to see,” said Fournier.
The Titans season opener is Saturday, August 27, when they will be heading to Vegreville to play the Vortex. The team’s home opener is September 2 at 7 p.m. under the Friday night lights.
