There are no OVFL games scheduled in the Ottawa region this weekend, but that hardly means that local talent is sitting idle.
On the Quebec side, we have the Wilson Challenge, during which Team Outaouais will seek to record their first win since their first appearance in 2007. An article from Martin Comtois for Le Droit follows below, and provides some additional details, however it had to be Google translated so bear with any language oddities I may have missed.
And then in Nova Scotia, the Football Canada Cup gets going on the weekend with an Eastern Ontario team. I’ve asked for a roster, and was told I’d get one but didn’t, so I’ve had to lift it from Canada Football Chat. I have created a page specific to it and will add details throughout the tournament.
Shut out in their three previous appearances, Team Outaouais will seek a first win when the Wilson Challenge kicks off tonight at McGill Stadium in Montreal.
The regional team sheet shows nine losses in as many games since 2007 in the largest football tournament in Canada. Presented over 11 days, the event will bring together about 900 players…under the age of 17 in Quebec…
Several scouts from the college ranks will assist in the tournament in preparation for their next recruitment year.
“It’s a tournament that offers great exposure for young people. For us, it’s also a great development opportunity, to compete against players from higher leagues elsewhere in the province, “said offensive coordinator team Outaouais Alexandre Mathieu.
Mathieu will support head coach Eric Fortin, who was putting the finishing touches to preparations for last night. Players trained on a small grassy area near Mont Bleu High School.
No other field was available elsewhere in the Gatineau.
In the first round, Outaouais will face none other than the defending champions, a team that combines the best elements of Montreal schools. This will be a confrontation between David and Goliath. The match is scheduled for Sunday morning.
“The Outaouais region is still young in football. We are still developing,” acknowledged Mathieu.
“At the same time, we are more competitive, although we are always looking for first win. There has never been a one-sided match. ”
Forty-five players were selected to represent the Outaouais. They come from 12 high schools in Gatineau, Petite-Nation and Haute-Gatineau that form the Subway Football League. Other athletes were recruited from the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA).
Each team that participates in the Wilson Challenge plays four games of four quarters of 12 minutes in the space of a week and a half. There are two categories, the U15 and U17. Outaouais is involved at the under 17 category.
Members of the Montreal Alouettes will sponsor teams in the tournament and attend some of the 29 matches on the menu. Presented since 1997, the Wilson Challenge has gained credibility over the years. Its first edition had only four clubs.
This year, organizers have allowed the participation of Nova Scotia provincial all-star team in an out-of-competition tournament.