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Football Huddle

The Edmonton Eskimos are scheduled to huddle up on Father’s Day at Riel Recreation Park. The June 21 event is open to the public. The Green and Gold will practice from 1 to 3 p.m. on the artificial turf, with an autograph session to follow.

The Edmonton Eskimos are scheduled to huddle up on Father’s Day at Riel Recreation Park.

The June 21 event is open to the public. The Green and Gold will practice from 1 to 3 p.m. on the artificial turf, with an autograph session to follow.

A number of Eskimos make St. Albert their home, including all-star quarterback Ricky Ray and Danny Maciocia, the team’s general manager and director of football operations. Rick LeLacheur, president and CEO, also has strong ties to St. Albert.

The Eskimos Alumni also contributed financially towards a scoreboard for St. Albert’s new football field. Among the many acts of generosity by the alumni last year was the donation of $5,000 towards high school football field rental costs for the metro Edmonton league.

The St. Albert High Skyhawks wrapped up their spring camp at the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds jamboree last weekend.

In the controlled scrimmages they tied the Harry Ainlay Titans, beat the O’Leary Spartans and Jasper Place Rebels and lost by a touchdown to the Thunderbirds.

Among the many Skyhawks who stood out were Cody Glasow (cornerback and running back), Eric Denman (played every down at the jamboree at tight-end and defensive halfback), Nathan Winchester (defensive tackle and centre) and Adam Sturgess (Grade 9 Sir George Simpson student and tier I midget Storm player did most of his damage at defensive end).

“All of our Grade 9 players played very well and did not look out of place,” said head coach Sam Johnson.

When the 2009 metro Edmonton season kicks off in September, the Skyhawks will compete in the Carr Conference against the Salisbury Sabres, Austin O’Brien Crusaders and the two-time defending champion Bev Facey Falcons. The junior Hawks are in the premier conference with the Bellerose Bulldogs, Salisbury and Facey. Last year Facey repeated as premier champions with a 42-6 drubbing of the Hawks.

The Skyhawks and Hawks are made up of players from the St. Albert Catholic and Paul Kane high schools.

The Bellerose Bulldogs looked in midseason form at the recent Ardrossan Bisons jamboree.

The roster of 45 players from the Bellerose and Sturgeon high schools won three and lost one in the controlled scrimmage format. The Miles Conference team lost by one touchdown to the Austin O’Brien Crusaders and beat Sexsmith 5-2 and Peace River 5-4 after being up by three TDs and playing the bench. On the last play of the game against the Archbishop Jordan Scots the Bellerose defence stopped the Sherwood Park team on the one-yard line for the win.

Taking turns at quarterback at the jamboree were Jon Ziarko, Taylor White and Simon Fawcett. Wideout Keegan Everett caught three TD passes. Devin Kondro (senior Bulldogs MVP in 2008 as the only Grade 10 starter on the team) led the ground game and Brady Dryer also racked up yards. The 400-pound backfield combination of Sean Allen and Kondro did some serious damage to Sexsmith and Peace River.

The defence was spearheaded by linebacker Kieran Fraser and rush end Dylan Wytinck.

Not dressed for the jamboree because of injuries were tier I midget Storm players Cam Joseph (2008 junior Bulldogs MVP), Cody Andresen (junior Bulldogs defensive MVP) and Grayson Baker (junior Bulldogs’ co-offensive player of the year with White). Linemen Joe Ur (injured in camp) and Jim Walters (rugby) also didn’t participate

At their rookie camp the Bulldogs had just fewer than 30 players sign up.

As for the senior Bulldogs, they are the pre-season favourites to win their second Miles playoff trophy in three years. Last year the seniors finished 2-5 overall while the juniors went 6-3 as the premier conference semifinalists.

Neal Ternovatsky of St. Albert is competing for a roster spot at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ training camp.

Last month the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampedes dealt the third-year CFL linebacker to Winnipeg for future considerations. The six-foot two, 230-pound Ternovatsky dressed for nine games with Calgary in 2008, and played in the Grey Cup. The former Alberta Golden Bear played in special team situations as a backup linebacker in the 22-14 win over the Montreal Alouettes at Olympic Stadium. Near the end of the game on a kickoff he made a special teams tackle.

During an injury-riddled regular season he registered one defensive tackle, along with five special teams tackles.

Ternovatsky, 24, is the first St. Albert High Skyhawk to play in the CFL and to have his name inscribed on the Grey Cup.

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