EK kicker turns pro in Mexican football league

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This article was published 17/01/2020 (2439 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Kildonan-East Collegiate student Brad Mikoluff is officially a professional football player.

Mikoluff, a standout kicker for the Canadian Junior Football League’s Winnipeg Rifles before playing three seasons for the University of Manitoba Bisons, was selected in the inaugural draft of the LFA, Mexico’s professional football league.

“I signed on with my agent Michael Hayes of NA3 Sports,” Mikoluff said. “Michael contacted me at the end of October in regards to the LFA and the draft that was going to happen. I was drafted on Nov. 1, 2019.”

On Jan. 5, Mikoluff left to join the Monterrey Fundidores (Smelters), one of eight teams in the LFA, which was founded in 2016. The draft was held in partnership with the Canadian Football League, which is forming similar unions with leagues all around the world. Each LFA team can carry two non-Mexican players and fills out the rest of the roster by drafting players from one of two Mexican collegiate leagues. Former NFL star Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson once played for the Fundidores.

Mikoluff said he will have to make some adjustments once down south.

“They play by NFL rules so I will have to work at kicking off the ground for field goals and converts,” Mikoluff said. “However, Justin Medlock is my mentor and is helping me out with the change.”

Throughout his career Mikoluff has also practised with the likes of Blue Bomber legend Bob Cameron, former Blue Bomber Mike Renaud, and CFL kickers Noel Prefontaine and Lirim Hajrullahu. He also took three trips to camps run by Ray Guy, the only punter in the NFL Hall of Fame. 

And he’s put in plenty of work on his own. I have been the Winnipeg Rifles’ official scorer for most of the past 15 years and saw Mikoluff nail kick after kick in all weather conditions from 2011 to 2015. He improved every year and wasn’t afraid to go downfield and make a booming tackle.

The LFA season begins in early February, with the championship slated for May 17. Some games are available on regional Fox Sports channels, as the network is an LFA media partner.

Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@gmail.com

Tony Zerucha
East Kildonan community correspondent

Tony Zerucha is a community correspondent for East Kildonan. Email him at tzerucha@gmail.com

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