The best of the best in Hamilton high school football will display their talents tomorrow night when the 20th Steel City Bowl is played at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
Read More: [url]http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/780939
The game has been a showcase for how good high school football is here since it was first played in 1991. Scouts from virtually all Canadian Universities who have football programs will be on hand and Dennis Griffin, who is on the organizing committee, says a number of American schools, which technically aren’t allowed to scout the game because of NCAA regulations, will know what’s going on here, as well. Alumni from schools south of the border have been known to show up at the game from time to time, he notes.
Both area junior teams, the Burlington Braves and Hamilton Hurricanes will be on hand to check out the talent level, as well.
“The scouts like this area because they know there are a lot of good players here,” said Griffin.
Many players have used the game as a spingboard to university football and more than a dozen have then gone on to play in the CFL. Rob Hitchcock (Glendale-Hamilton), Mike Morreale (Newman-Hamilton, Toronto), Corey Grant (Orchard Park-Hamilton, Saskachewan, Montreal), Dave Stala (Cathedral-Montreal, Hamilton) and Brian Crawford (Barton-Toronto) are among the players who played in the game and made it to the CFL.
The game has a unique format in that the city is split on an East-West basis meaning players in the Catholic system and in the public board become teammates.
“It’s a good format because the kids in the two systems hear about each other but they never get to play against each other,” said Griffin, noting coaching staffs for the two teams come from the two boards.
The East team, coached by Paul Barret of Cathedral and George Knill of Sir Winston Churchill, is composed of players from St. Jean de Brebeuf, Barton, Sherwood, Cathedral, Bishop Ryan, Cardinal Newman, Delta, Churchill, Orchard Park, Saltfleet and Glendale.
Paul Cooke of Sir Allan MacNab and Nick Lazar of St. Mary will coach the West team, made up of players from St. Thomas More, Dundas Highland, Ancaster, Westmount, Hill Park, MacNab, St. Mary, Dundas Parkside, Sir John A. MacDonald. Westdale, Waterdown and Bishop Tonnos.
Tickets for the game are $5 and can be purchased the night of the game at the Beechwood Avenue gate at Ivor Wynne. Cable 14 will also be televising the game live at 7 p.m.
June 03, 2010
Garry McKay
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 3, 2010)
Photos by Barry Gray, the Hamilton Spectator
[email][email protected]
905-526-3242
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
CFC Youth Game Spotlight: Quebec OL ready to lock it down
