2010 Football Canada Cup is pleased to announce that John Huard, the former Acadia Coach who led the Axemen to two Vanier Cup championships, has been named the eventās Honourary Chair.
āJohn Huard was a great coach, mentor and role model to me and to the individuals who passed through his football program,ā praises the Event Co-Chair, and former Acadia player, Bob Trainor. āHis leadership influenced us long after he stopped coaching ā and Iām sure he will keep challenging us well into the future.ā
John began his career as a linebacker for the University of Maine and was a three-time Maine Athlete of the Year. He later played professionally with Denver and New Orleans in the NFL and then Montreal and Toronto in the CFL, before retiring due to injury.
He began his coaching career in Maine and in 1979, through the intervention of long-time friend and mentor J.I. Albrecht, arrived at Acadia University as Head Coach for the Axemen. In his first season the Axemen won the conference title (18-0 over St. F.X.), the Atlantic Bowl (23-7 over Alberta) and Acadiaās first Vanier Cup (34-12 over Western). In 1980 John was named the AUAA Coach of the Year.
In 1981 John coached the Axemen to Acadiaās second Vanier Cup in three years (18-12 over Alberta) and was awarded the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIAU Coach of the Year. After leaving Acadia he held various coaching positions including for a conditional CFL expansion team based in Halifax (the team folded before playing a game), with the Maine Military Academy, with the Shreveport Pirates, at Kent Hills High School in Maine, and as the Head Coach of the Toronto Argonauts.
John is currently CEO of Northeast Turf in South Portland, ME, and Northeast representative for FieldTurf. His generous lead donation of almost $1 million made possible the installation of FieldTurf on Acadiaās Raymond Field. In 2010 he was inducted in to the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame.
Football Canada Cup will take place from July 11 to 17 at Acadia University, in Wolfville, NS. Competing teams are representing British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario East, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The event, established in 1993, is the National Tackle Football Championship featuring the top high school and midget football players, from across Canada, who have not yet played at the university or junior level. For details visit www.FootballNovaScotia.ca or to purchase tickets call 1-800-542-8425.
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