Hamilton, Ontario – On Thursday night the Hamilton Hurricanes of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) held a press conference at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame to announce a very special partnership.
The announcement was made that the Hamilton-Wentworth Panthers have changed their name to the Tiger-Cats for players 7-14 years old and to the Senior Varsity Hurricanes for players 13-19 years old. The Senior Varsity Hurricanes will be coached by Head Coach Rob Underhill. This partnership between the Hamilton-Wentworth Minor Football Association and the Hamilton Hurricanes also has the support from the McMaster Marauders football program and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The shift of the Hamilton-Wentworth Minor Football program name to the Hurricanes and Tiger-Cats brand is a major step in the right direction for Hamilton football. This now allows for one system and one program of football from the grassroots level to the junior level of football in Hamilton. With this one-system approach, players will not be asked to learn new systems in each level of football they play in, but rather acquire new skills and continue to develop the skills they already have to make them better football players, which in turn could potentially propel them to the next level.
Coach Underhill explained how excited, honoured, and privileged he is to have been chosen to be the Head Coach and the Director of Football Development at the Varsity level, “This group of people has worked so hard to make me a part of their organization and I am honoured.”
As for what this announcement means for football in Hamilton, Coach Underhill said, “For the first time in the history of Hamilton you have one football program and one program for life. Every level and every system working together to help develop football players between the ages of seven and twenty-two for the future.”
As for a couple of the newly recruited players in attendance for the announcement, they seemed to be just as excited as the rest of the crowd and the coaching staff.
Jordan Brucculeri, 18, who is a Wide Receiver said, “I look forward to having the best coaching staff and when I heard they (Coach Underhill and his staff) were coming over, I knew I had to be a Hurricane.”
Linebacker, Santino Gallo, 18, echoes Jordan’s thoughts by saying, “I am loyal to Coach Underhill. He put me in a position to succeed and wherever he is, is where I will be. Definitely exciting.”
For those players interested in trying out and playing for the Senior Varsity Hurricanes, you can register online at www.hwmfa.com. Coach Underhill’s advice to those who are interested in making the team, “We are going to be good and we will be competitive, so all players should come ready to compete.”
Nick Pelletier
About the Hamilton Hurricanes
The Hamilton Hurricanes are a member of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) and are 2010 & 2011 OFC Champions. For more information log onto www.the-canes.com
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