Winnipeg High School League Football Preview

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/09/2015 (3897 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Things are a little different around the WHSFL this year, with a new floating playoff system that will see the lowest-ranked teams from the top two divisions drop down to contest for a championship against closer-matched competition. League coaches are optimistic it will make for a more exciting finish.

For teams on the edge, it’s a boon. Elmwood had a strong 8-1 performance in the Currie Division last year, but have now moved up and are seeded last in Kas Vidruk. A perfect storm of attrition left coach Nathan Falk with only about 29 players at training camp — an uphill battle for AA, but they know they have a shot at meaningful games.

“It guarantees pretty much everybody a competitive playoff,” Falk said. “The tiering process happens in June, but a lot can happen in that time. So it’s kind of a nice safety blanket.”

As the exhibition season moves to its close, WHSFL commissioner Rick Henkewich said the league feels confident in how the pieces fit together.

“We got the tiering right,” he said. “I think everyone is in the proper division now, and so far, everybody looks really competitive. There’s a lot of enthusiasm from both players and coaches. Usually, you see that this time of year, but this time there’s more of it.”

The changes could make things mighty interesting come playoff time, but for now, a quick look at some possible contenders in each division.

John Potter AAA

2014 CHAMPIONS: Oak Park KICKOFF: Sept. 9, with St. Paul’s vs. Vincent Massey

THREE TO WATCH: DB Marcel Arruda-Welch (Garden City); K Niko Di Fonte (Oak Park); RB/DB Ethan Paul (Sisler) 

PLAYBOOK: Oak Park snapped St. Paul’s three championship streak in a nail-biter last fall, but they’ll be in tough to defend it. The Raiders graduated all but 12 players from their 2014 roster, and are now bringing up a talented but young bunch.

On the other hand, Sisler has a seasoned group led by explosive multi-purpose player Ethan Paul, and Vincent Massey’s squad now features the alumni from the last two consecutive junior varsity championship teams. Any of those could make some noise come playoff time, and there will be some teams pushing them: Garden City has a talented young quarterback who started in AA last season, as well as a lights-out CB in Marcel Arruda-Welch who has U.S. college interest.

All three of those teams will be in the mix for the final. The last team that wasn’t the Raiders or Crusaders to win the WHSFL’s top prize was Churchill, in 2008.

Kas Vidruk AA

2014 CHAMPIONS: St. Paul’s Crusaders 

KICKOFF: Sept. 9, with Vincent Massey Brandon vs. Crocus Plains

TWO TO WATCH: MLB Torian Kitt (Miles Macdonell); SB Birhanu Yitna (River East)

PLAYBOOK: St. Paul’s AA squad will be hunting hard for their third Kas Vidruk championship in a row. They’ll have to fight for it. The Steinbach Sabres program has been thriving in recent years, made it to the final in 2014, and will be hungry to get back.

Historic football stronghold Churchill, in its second season at the AA level, could be building back up. Many observers are also keen on the Miles Macdonell Buckeyes, coached by provincial U18 sideline boss Dan Washnuk, who have some dynamite on defence. Finally, don’t count out the River East Kodiaks: their pivot Bryson McNeil throws the long bombs and led the division in passing last year, and he’s got a prime target in rising receiver Birhanu Yitna.

Andy Currie A

2014 CHAMPIONS: West Kildonan Wolverines 

SEASON STARTS: Sept. 10, with Maples vs. St. John’s

TWO TO WATCH: OL/DL Rain Slater (St. John’s); RB Brandon Friesen (Portage) Playbook: The St. John’s Tigers have a lot to roar about this season. They haven’t won a WHSFL championship in a long time, but they have one of the stoutest offensive lines in the division — led by 15-year-old Nomads player Rain Slater, who is already 6-4 and 270 pounds in Grade 10. Meanwhile, St. Norbert also has a strong squad coming up under the tutelage of former University of Manitoba Bison Adrian Huntley, and Kenora’s Beaver Brae Broncos could bust out.

Then there is Portage. That team features RB Brandon Friesen, 16, the lone A-division player to crack the 2015 provincial team roster for the summer’s Canada Cup. If he heats up, he could wreak some havoc in the division.