Clansmen benefit from new blood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/09/2016 (3536 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As they celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Murdoch MacKay Clansmen have taken steps to ensure there will be plenty more anniversaries to celebrate in the future.

Head coach Thomas Lange said a sudden infusion of talent has made the 2016 edition of the Clansmen one of the deepest squads he’s ever coached.

“We’ve been building a homegrown squad for a lot of years and have been competing with the Transcona Nationals for players. This was the first year we’ve had everyone under one roof and we’re looking to make our mark.

“It’s going to be a banner year and this is the best team we’ve had in a long time.”

The area which has benefited the most is likely the offensive line.

“We’ve had guys who weren’t Potter offensive linemen stepping up and doing well for us but now we have the bodies of guys who are physically at that calibre,” Lange said.

“To start a game with not one lineman playing both ways in the Potter is huge,” assistant coach Andrew Westwood added.

A leader on the line is Halem Hrizai, a 6’3”, 255 pound product who is drawing attention from programs on both sides of the border. Lange said he sets the tone for the rest of the linemen.

“He’s our workhorse on the line. He’s a big boy with great feet who works hard with his athleticism.”

Hrizai said the Clansmen line doesn’t get intimidated.

“We’re loud and we like to talk. It’s the mentality you want.”

Hrizai is one of at least a dozen players Westwood said has potential to succeed at the next level of football.

Another one is quarterback Landon Wilkinson, described by Lange as one of the best athletes on the team.

“Landon will run for as many yards as he passes for,” Lange said. “And in big games he’ll also play defensive back.”

Wilkinson looks forward to directing a balanced offense.

“Over the last three years the offense has really improved. Our passing game has gotten better and with Brandon (Urciuoli) we have a good running game developing.

“We’ll be employing an Oregon-style spread offense where we show different sets. We’ll also throw some tricks in there.”

As a known commodity, receiver Tim Solypa draws top coverage every game but still succeeds, Lange said. Solypa continues a streak of top Clansmen receivers and that is no coincidence, Westwood added, comparing him to former Clansman Liam Grace, who is now with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

“Tim learned from Liam, who learned from Felix (Kaanon), who learned from Derek Yachison.”
Grace, Kaanon and Yachison are all with the Bisons and Solypa has the ability to join them, both Lange and Westwood said.

Yachison and fellow Bison Zack Williams are two alumni who have maintained strong ties to the Clansmen program, Lange said. They come back to coach during camp, joining a Clansmen staff that is mostly alumni.

“Other teams talk about being a family, but we actually are,” Lange said. “They come back to practices, are on our alumni committee and are always at the game wearing their jackets.”

Those strong ties have fostered a winning culture with high expectations. When combined with strong support from parents, both of current players and alumni, something special is happening at Murdoch MacKay.

Two special games this season are the Sept. 29 homecoming at Murdoch MacKay and the Oct. 21 game at Transcona Nationals field, which raises awareness of breast cancer. Both games start at 5 p.m.