There could be a whole new crop of CFL stars on the horizon in the next ten years or so, that is if the state of amateur football in Winnipeg is any indication.
Allan Besson of the Winnipeg Free Press put together a feature story on football in Winnipeg and judging by the success of the programs in the city football is alive and well.
Nomads a testament to North End pride
Sun Aug 26 2007
By Allan Besson
THERE'S an old saying that goes like this: "There are only two kinds of people in the world; North Enders, and those who wish they were North Enders."
The North Winnipeg Nomads Football Club, which was established 38 years ago with one bantam team and has grown to 13 teams ranging in age from seven to 21, is a testament to that North End pride.
While the name Nomads would seem to be a misnomer -- the team has been entrenched in the North End for years -- it wasn't until 1997 that they finally got a permanent home. The Winnipeg Hawkeyes, who had a clubhouse adjacent to the Charlie Krupp Stadium on McPhillips Street, had ceased operations, and agreed to sell the building to the Nomads for $1. Until then, the team played out of Northwood Community Club, but bounced around a variety of fields without actually having a home base.
With more than 430 kids registered in their program this year, chances are the Nomads will add to their list of provincial titles. The club has claimed 13 provincial titles, three Western Canadian titles and sent six players to the Canadian Football League. Ten of their 13 teams made it into the playoffs last year, while three made provincials, with the midget Nomads winning a title.
The club's teams break down as follows: Terminators (age 7-8), three teams; Atom (9-10), two teams; Peewee (11-12), three teams; Minor Bantam (13), two teams; Bantam (14), one team; Midget (15-17), one team; Major (18-21), one team.
This weekend, the team is hosting its Nomad Pride Weekend, with all 13 teams seeing action. Games Saturday saw St. Vital Mustangs defeat the Nomads Peewee (east) 45-0, Bantam Nomads defeat St. Vital 55-0 and Nomads Atom (east) lose 30-0 to the Mustangs. Nomads Major squad played St. Vital in a late game.
Terry Andryo, the club's marketing co-ordinator, described Nomad pride this way: "The North End has always been considered a tough end of town, and that has always translated into the way we play our sports. My kids play hockey, lacrosse and football and one of the things that has been bestowed upon them by the kids who played before them up is play tough, but play clean."
Andryo said that the North End passion for football goes even further. "Out of this area alone there are eight high school teams that draw from the Nomads, which says something, because a lot of these kids start their amateur football with us."
The high schools include St. John's Tigers, Tec Voc Hornets, Daniel McIntyre Maroons, Sisler Spartans (two teams), Maples Marauders and the new kids on the block this year, Garden City Fighting Gophers and West Kildonan Wolverines.
Nomad Pride Weekend continues today. Nomads teams playing include Atom (west) vs. Transcona, 10 a.m.; Peewee (west) vs. Transcona, 12:30 p.m.; Peewee (north) vs. St. Vital, 3 p.m.; Minor Bantam (west) vs. Transcona, 5:30 p.m.; Minor Bantam (east) vs. St. Vital, 8 p.m.
allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca
Nomads' titles
1970 -- Western Canadian Bantam; Provincial
1972 -- Western Canadian Bantam; Provincial
1973 -- Western Canadian Bantam; Provincial
1974 -- Provincial Bantam
1979 -- Provincial Minor Bantam
1990 -- Provincial Minor Bantam; Bantam
1993 -- Provincial Minor Bantam
1994 -- Provincial Bantam
1996 -- Provincial Peewee
2002 -- Provincial Midget
2005 -- Provincial Bantam
2006 -- Provincial Midget
Nomads alumni
Jason Dzikowicz -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Harold Jackman -- Ottawa Rough Riders
Rick Koswin -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Mark McLoughlin -- Calgary Stampeders
Mike O'Donnell -- Montreal Alouettes
Colton Orr -- New York Rangers (NHL)
Gary Rosolowich -- Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Travis Zajac -- New Jersey (NHL)
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