Based in a community isolated from most of the country, six-man football has become an avenue of opportunity for youth in northern Quebec.
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This past week 20 players from Chisasibi, Que., took part in the 6 Nations Challenge in Saskatoon, a week-long program put together by Football Canada and Football Saskatchewan. The event was football centric, but offered more than lessons in cowhide and gridiron.
“It means a lot to the team,” said player Alex MacDonald. “I don’t think a lot of kids in our community get a chance to go do stuff like this because we’re so secluded from everything. To see things like this, it means a lot to a lot of kids here.”
The James Bay Eagles stayed in dorms in Saskatoon and had a chance to compete in controlled scrimmages against Clavet High School and Prince Albert Collegiate on Sunday, two schools in Saskatchewan’s renowned six-man football leagues. MacDonald and others were “nervous at first.”
The Eagles attended a Canadian Interuniversity Sport pre-season game between the Saskatchewan Huskies and Western Ontario Mustangs on Friday and also took part in non-contact drills with the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Prairie Football Conference.
For some players this was their first time on an airplane or out of the province.
“For (Clavet and Prince Albert) this is more a of preparation thing,” said Trevor Monaghan, the program’s co-ordinator. “For us, we’ve technically been training all summer long and had two mini-games at home — this is pretty much our Super Bowl (Sunday).”
Added MacDonald: “I never thought I’d be here before football started back home. It opened up a lot of doors to me. We got to see how good we are as a team and right now I think we’re doing pretty good.”
Chisasibi, home to roughly 4,000 people, is just east of James Bay in northern Quebec. In order to catch their flight west from Ottawa, the team needed to travel 1,300 kilometres.
Monaghan, a former player with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees who was born in the neighbouring town of Wemindji, founded the six-man program last year with financial help from the community’s recreation department. The program runs from May to September and boasts 35 participants. Only 20 made the trek from Chisasibi.
Two players from last year’s edition have already taken advantage of the program. Brothers George and Derrick Neacappo have locked down roster spots with the Ottawa Sooners, a junior team in the Ontario Football Conference.
Due to the community’s isolation, the team is typically limited to intra-squad games to complement their practices three or four times a week. The scrimmages draw 400 to 500 spectators, according to Monaghan.
“From a community standpoint it brings people together,” said Monaghan.
“I guess it gives them that thought that if they put their mind to it and if they show up then anything can happen, right? They go to bed and they’re feeling excited about this . . . seeing smiles on their face I think is the most important thing from my perspective.
“This is a trip for them for life. They’re always be the first team from James Bay to do this and I think that’s pretty special.”
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