The Immaculata Saints football team has high hopes for its third season in the Tier 2 city league.
They say the third time’s the charm, and that just might be true for the Immaculata Saints high school senior football team. The Saints are preparing for their third season in the Tier 2 city league, after losing last year in the city finals.
The team is focused on returning to the championship game, with recent changes to both the roster and coaching staff.
Head coach John Whyte says he expects the changes to have an impact.
“We are looking forward to a very successful season this year.”
Whyte also says he’s curious to see how the season will go with the new players.
“Now some of the key pieces have left [and] some coaches have left, so we’ll see what happens when we plug in the players that we have,” he says. “There’s definitely a fair bit of talent – it’s just trying to put it in the right spots.” This talent could bring Immaculata the championship it has been working toward for the past two seasons. In its first season of play, the Saints made it to the semifinals. Last season they lost 38-15 to Holy Trinity in the finals.
While the team is looking forward to a successful season, it must deal with the loss of one of its founding coaches, Brent Hopkins, who has moved to another school, and some of its players who have graduated.
One of these losses has turned itself into a gain. James Fowler, a former star player and middle linebacker, has returned to join the coaching staff.
Ex-CFL player Phil Charron has also joined as a specialty coach who will help with the receivers and the offence.
Aside from new coaches, the team has also added some new players.
Grade 12 student Jon LeBlanc, who used to play soccer, will play on the offensive line and be the nose tackle on defence.
LeBlanc has never played football before, but says he decided to try something new.
“When I played soccer, a lot of them said I would be really great for football . . . [because of] my size,” he says.
LeBlanc’s size and aggression should have a “direct impact” on the team’s success, says Whyte.
Two returning players, Jesse and Jerome Stevens, will help maintain the strong defence the team had last year, Whyte says.
Jesse, who graduated this past school year and has returned to take some courses, says the team is better prepared this year.
“I have faith in our team and I’m confident that we will do well,” he says. “Hopefully when we do get to the championship we will succeed and win.”
The team started its preparation for the season with a spring camp and in late August the team’s 40 players began a training camp. Now practices are usually held three times a week.
While Whyte says his focus for the players is to apply what they learn, he has noticed the players are determined on getting back into the finals.
The pressure is on, says Grade 11 quarterback Chris Kabouchi.
“This year we just have to win it.”
The Saints’ first game is against St. Matthew on Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m.