FPC DB ready to join familiar face on Queens Gaels

The Gaels bring in an Ontario commit to their Class of 2017.

The Queens Gaels are about the have double the trouble on both sides of the ball after Liam Puskas, a defensive back from St. Ignatius High School, committed to the team.

Puskas won’t be the first of his family to suit up for the Gaels. He has an older brother, Jake, who plays as a running back on the team. Having a familiar face in the locker room was a factor in Puskas’s decision to commit to Queens.

“They have an awesome football program that I’ve been able to take a close look at over the last two years,” Puskas added. “Queens has an awesome group of coaches that I’m really looking forward to working with next year.”

During his time with Team Ontario in the 2017 International Bowl, Puskas said, “I’ve already gotten a small taste of what the coaches are like from an athlete’s perspective as Coach D’Andrea was on the coaching staff.”

This wasn’t the first time that he had encountered the Gaels’ staff, however. Over the past two years, he has attended the team’s summer skills development camp. He said that during these camps, he has gotten a chance to work with many of the Queens coaches as well as many of the players.

When given a chance to play football at the university level, academics always comes into the fold. Puskas said the school’s academics played a huge part in his decision. Averaging a 93% on the school year in all university-level courses, Puskas has applied to kinesiology.

Standing at 6’0, 175lbs, the Thunder Bay, Ontario, halfback has had an extensive football career. He spent six years in the Thunder Bay Minor Football Association before joining the St. Ignatius Falcons (Superior Secondary School Athletic Association) at the age of 13. Now 17, Puskas has also played with Team Ontario at the 2015 Spaulding Cup where he was a game MVP, Team Manitoba Silver at the 2016 Football Canada Cup and in three-straight Fox 40 Prospect Challenge games.

“I’m lucky enough to have been part of an unbelievable high school team,” Puskas added, having claimed two junior championships in 2013 and 2014 off undefeated seasons. While with the senior team, he also captured two championships in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, his team competed in the OFSAA title game, however it ended in a disappointing loss. Puskas was unable to compete because of an infection in his back. Never deterred, he would get a shot at redemption in 2016 where he would have a dominating OFSAA game that ended in a win and a MVP honours. During the game, he had three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, over eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Now, he will be looking to bring his success and winning mentality to the Gaels. “I’m looking forward to this next step in my football career,” he said. “I want to thank all of those who have helped me get to where I am now.”