The countdown begins to CanadaFootballChat.com’s Ontario Prospect Challenge (OPC) on the April 29th weekend at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton. In the days leading up to the OPC, CFC will preview the teams and the players participating in the big event.
Brayden Misseri walks across the field. Courtesy of Nikki Misseri.
There will be a lot of new faces at this year’s Ontario Prospect Challenge (OPC), but there will also be old ones. A veteran presence, such as the one Brayden Misseri will bring, can only add improvement to any team.
“I chose to play because it is very action packed, a great environment to play football in and to meet new players from other clubs,” Misseri said.
The OPC is a great learning opportunity for all involved and Misseri is taking the time to relish in that fact. He cites the chance to learn from great coaches and meet new players as the highlights of the Challenge so far.
Misseri, who is 6’0, 165lbs, currently plays as a wide receiver and strong safety for the Oshawa Hawkeyes of the Ontario Minor Football League. He suited up with Team Central for last season’s OPC. In December 2015, he represented Team Canada in the Pop Warner Superbowl in Florida.
The young football player does not shy away from the difficult tasks involved when playing as a wide receiver. “I like the intensity, pressure and challenge of having to catch the ball while being covered,” he said.
“I like safety [also] because of the coverage that I have to provide and the pressure of not getting beat,” he added.
By playing with the Hawkeyes, Misseri is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Dylan, who also suited up for the team. Dylan also played for the Donald A. Wilson Gators (Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association) and is currently in the Canadian Army. Misseri says that he is his football inspiration.
Last season, the OPC converged on TD Place in Ottawa. This season, the players will be playing on Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. “It’s amazing. I got to play at TD Stadium last year so being able to say I’ve played on 2 CFL fields is very cool,” Misseri said.
Like any important football game, there is sure to be a lot of pressure on the players. Misseri’s steps to handle this pressure is simple: relax, stay calm and stay focused.
Misseri will be graduating in 2020. He said he would love to play for a CIS school, however his dream is to go to University of Oregon (NCAA). Beyond that, Misseri said, “I would love to play football as my career. Playing the sport that I love as my job is my dream.”
“My goals are to continue to learn, improve and be the best that I can be,” he added. “My most important, personal goal is to graduate with honours. I would also like to improve my speed and agility.”
During the OPC, Misseri’s goals are to “to improve as a player and a teammate.”
And his message to the team? “Play the best we can and leave everything on the field,” he said. “Have a smile on our face and hold our heads up high, win or lose.”
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