SPARTANS PLAY TOUGH IN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY VS. NANAIMO REDMEN

By Bob Dubicki

(ISN) — On one of the hottest days of the summer, the Victoria Spartans Bantam team played a “friendly” with Island rivals, the Nanaimo Redmen at Pioneer Park on Sunday August 15.

What was to be a continuation of an annual tradition of Island teams battling it out for Community Football bragging rights, the Nanaimo Invitational tourney unfortunately was pared to simply Victoria and Nanaimo after a scheduling conflict forced the Cowichan Bulldogs to back out at the last minute.

Temperatures hovering around 38 degrees did not all help the smaller squad Nanaimo team who needed “both ways” duty from several key players. The Spartans took advantage by consistently moving the ball on offence and being stingy on defence. The end-result was a 20-0 score.

Spartans scoring came first by way of a short bull-run up the middle by Sam Varao. Later, a bootleg around the corner from the 15 yard line by QB Lowell McDonald resulted in a 2nd TD. Late in the game, a beautiful 35-yard yard reception by Logan Maher led to another passing play, this time a 25-yard Lowell McDonald pass to Elyjah Halstad in the end-zone. Two converts were successful by kicking specialist Callum Duke.

On defence Alex Rutten, Brian Galbriath McTavish, Carson Scotney and Ben Sloat kept the other side to no nearer than the 25-yard line with 2QB sacks along the way.

As always, Nanaimo Football were great hosts. Next stop for the Spartans will be their VMFL season opener on Labour Day at Eagle Ridge/Bear Mountain Stadium.

CALLING ALL YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS

The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds football is holding its first ever Vancouver Island skills camp in Nanaimo in conjunction with Football Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Redmen.

The entire UBC coaching staff will be there with at least six former CFL players including Daved Benefield, Mark Nohra and Chris Hoople.

There will also be other guest coaches including from the three-time Canadian Junior Champion V.I. Raiders.

The event is a full gear camp May 1st & 2nd and is for ages 11-18.

Limited space is available and information can be found at www.footballnanaimo.com on the home page under the UBC logo.

PIPPY TO LEAD REDMEN OFFENCE

The Nanaimo Midget Redmen football club has appointed Colin Pippy as its new offensive coordinator for the 2010 season.

 

Pippy played all through the Football Nanaimo program and also played with the V.I. Raiders.

 

“His knowledge of football and offensive creativity will be valuable assets,” said Head coach Sean Roden. “He follows in the large footsteps of Rick Keen who helped lead the 2009 Redmen to the VMFL Championship. Rick will stay with the team as a unit coach and mentor for Colin.”

BC LIONS HONOUR NANAIMO COACH

(ISN) — Nanaimo Midget Redmen and U15 flag head coach Sean Roden has been named the Community Coach of the Year for BC at the 2010 Orange Helmet Awards.

The BC Lions also contributed $1,000 to Football Nanaimo.

Also awarded an Orange Helmet Award was Vancouver Island Raiders head coach Matthew “Snoop” Blokker. The award recognized his team as B.C. champions. It’s the fourth year in a row that the Raiders have won the provincial title.

More than 1,000 people attended the event, now in its seventh year, which is the Lions’ salute to BC amateur football and featured former Lions and CFL legends Doug and Darren Flutie as keynote speaker and master of ceremonies.

Roden, who guided Football Nanaimo’s midget team to a Vancouver Mainland Football League championship, said he was thinking about his 25 players when he accepted his award.

DOUBLE AWARD FOR PARMAR

Nanaimo Midget Redmen running back Jimi Parmar has been awarded the Vancouver Mainland Football League’s John Henry Award recognizing perseverance and excellence in the pursuit of football.

Football Nanaimo President Sean Roden also presented Parmar with this championship ring awarded the Redmen for winning the B.C. Community Football Association championship in December.

As well, Partmar received the award for Best Offensive Back and was named the BCCFA Championships MVP for the Redmen.

Roden said the ring was earned at the BCCFA Championship game Dec 6 but had only just arrived.

“The John Henry Award was announced at the VMFL AGM on Feb. 6 but Jimi was not able to come to the meeting for his award so I presented both to him today.”

John Henry is considered a founding father of football in British Columbia

The Nanaimo Redmen midget team, coached by Roden, went 9-1 last season, then defeated White Rock-South Surrey and North Surrey in the playoffs, going on to capture the VMFL playoff championship with a tight 3-0 win over North Delta.

The victory put the Redmen into the provincial championship game, where they lost 20-10 to Chilliwack.

RODEN NEW FOOTBALL NANAIMO PRESIDENT

Football Nanaimo has a new president.

Nanaimo Midget Redmen head coach Sean Roden was elected president by acclamation at the association’s annual general meeting Saturday.

Also elected were: vice-president, Derik Ewen; treasurer, Brenda Fletcher; and secretary, Dan Costello.

Directors at Large are Lorne Bury, Carol Clease, Shelley Sherban, Joanne Russell, Aileen Faickney, Sara Craven, Leah Kutra, Grant Renton, Kim Bihari, Danene Harley, and Jon Wengel.

“We had a tremendous turnout and the FN boardroom was at full capacity,” said Roden who thanked retiring board members Rick Keen, Candy Francis, Bob Thompson and Sandy Pullin for their many years of service and commitment.

“They have been key in the success of Football Nanaimo on the executive level for many years. I am excited that we have had such a tremendous response to our need for people to fill the roles of those that are leaving and we are truly lucky to have the depth and quality of support from our group.

“In addition to the parents of players who have stepped forward to help I would like to especially thank Joanne Russell, Jon Wengel and Grant Renton for their commitment to Football Nanaimo as persons without children in the program.”

KEEN, EWEN NANAIMO COACHES OF THE YEAR

Nanaimo Football has honoured its best.

Midget Redmen’s Offensive Co-ordinator Rick Keen has been named Football

 

Nanaimo’s Senior Coach of the Year.

 

Junior Coach of the Year is Peewee Bomber Head Coach Derik Ewen and Executive of the Year is Sean Roden.

Team awards:

Pee Wee Bombers
MVP:  Joshua Harms
Best Offensive Player:  Dayton Gaskell
Best Defensive Player:  Cory Fletcher
Best Lineman:  Alexander Bihari
Coaches Achievement:  Nathanael Durkan
Most Improved:  Alex Staniforth
Most Sportsmanlike:  Malcolm Barr

Junior Bantam Lions
Most Improved Player:  Branton Thomson
Most Sportsmanlike:  Zachary Thompson
Best Lineman:  Cameron Harper
Best Defensive Player:  Thomas Eytcheson
Best Offensive Player:  Dodge Branisky
Coaches Achievement: Yavar Fouladi
Most Valuable Player: Nicholas Bury

Bantam Redmen 2009 Award Winners

 

Midget Redmen running back and 2009 BCCFA Final Game MVP Jimi Parmar was named 2009 Outstanding Offensive Back — Nanaimo Football photo

Rookie of the Year: Riley McEachern
Most Improved: Tory Martin
Best Defensive Lineman: Landon Beisel
Best Linebacker:  Ethan Schulz
Best Defensive Back: Iain Meadows
Best Receiver:  Jonah Wassell
Best Offensive back: Adrian Keller
Best Offensive Lineman: Chae-Cody Faickney
Most Sportsmanlike: Adrian Keller
Coach’s achievement: Jordan Pugh
MVP: Alex Kutra

Midget Redmen

2009 Coaches Achievement Award: Alex Beaudoin
2009 Outstanding Defensive Linemen: Matt Boyce
2009 Outstanding Defensive Linemen: Travis Carlson
2009 Most Sportsmanlike: Rick Keen
2009 Outstanding Defensive Back: Brendan Lattimer
2009 Most Valuable Player: Lukas Miner
2009 Outstanding Offensive Back – 2009 BCCFA Final Game – Most Valuable Player: Jimi Parmar
2009 Rookie of the Year: Cameron Rossetto
2009 Outstanding Linebacker: Bill Sadlemyer
2009 Most Improved Player: Taylor Saine
2009 Most Valuable Player – 2009 VMFL Defensive Most Valuable Player: Cole Samson
2009 Best Receiver: Whitman Tomusiak
Dave Gilmour/Casey Smith Memorial Scholarship Award: Zack Henderson

The Dave Gilmour/Casey Smith Memorial Scholarship Award is an annual $500 scholarship that is awarded to a grade 12 midget player who is attending a post-secondary institution in the fall of the next year.

The players submit an essay about themselves and the winner is chosen by a committee of parents.