Football teams representing P.E.I.
Two teams to represent P.E.I. at the Atlantic Bowl in Antigonish, N.S.
CORNWALL, P.E.I. — Yannick MacPhee will play his first-ever tackle football game wearing a Team P.E.I. jersey
The 16-year-old placekicker and wide receiver from Charlottetown is a member of Prince Edward Island’s under18 squad that will compete in the Atlantic Bowl at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., from July 21 to 24.
“I went on Facebook, saw the ad (for Team P.E.I.’s tryouts),” said MacPhee. “I like watching (football) on television, and I thought I would give it a try. I’m excited about the opportunity.”
Team P.E.I. under-18 head coach Matthew Muirhead praised the kicking abilities of MacPhee, who can split the uprights from 40 to 50 yards. MacPhee understands the sport as he has played flag football since he was nine years old. He has also played soccer since he was five years old.
“Playing soccer, I really liked kicking, and I always played receiver my whole flag career,” said MacPhee, a fan of the National Football League’s Arizona Cardinals and their quarterback Kyler Murray. “So, I thought I would try it out in tackle.
“I have always been small for my age, so I started growing.
A lot of the skills (from soccer and flag football) translate (to tackle football).
“We had a lot of tackle training and that, so I feel pretty prepared for Wednesday.”
That is when P.E.I. plays its first game against New Brunswick at 11 a.m. With P.E.I. and New Brunswick the only two provinces competing in under-18 play, the two teams will meet again on July 24 at 6 p.m.
Teams must have 48 hours off between games, which will provide an opportunity for the teams to practice, have film sessions and the coaches to teach new things.
TOURNAMENT
The Atlantic Bowl also features an under-16 division. P.E.I. will field a team of 20 players under the guidance of head coach Steve Letner.
“It’s a great opportunity for kids on P.E.I. to participate,” said Letner, a former head coach of the Holland Hurricanes. “We don’t have the numbers and those types of things to compete in the Canada Cup, so this is something regional that we can be a part of.”
While the Canada Cup showcases the top under-18 players from across the country, Letner said the Atlantic Bowl gives good exposure to players from Atlantic Canada. Every year, the event is getting bigger and bigger.
“Now we have the U18s involved, so it’s going to be fun,” added Letner.
The Atlantic Bowl features six-person football compared to 12-person. It will result in adjustments for both players and coaches. Muirhead is looking for P.E.I. to play an open style of offence.
“Our biggest adjustment is for the offensive linemen, the big guys up front,” said Muirhead during a recent practice for the two P.E.I. teams at the Terry Fox Sports Complex in Cornwall. “We don’t have a lot over here on the Island, or not as many play football. “We have to open the game up, so we can use our size and speed properly. How we do that is we spread it out, and we don’t have everything condensed down to your standard three-men line with two running backs.
“Sometimes, I have four receivers on the field and a quarterback. Our quarterback (Lucas Doucette) is a runner and a passer, and he’s a dual-threat.”
Letner said the under-16 team’s goal is to combine its speed and strength.
“Six-person ball is a speed game,” said Letner.
“If you can have power and speed in the same guys, your combo is pretty good. Our plan is to run the ball until they stop it.”
FIRST GAME
The P.E.I. under-16 team opens play against Nova Scotia on July 21 at 7 p.m. The winning team faces the winner of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador in the gold-medal game on July 24 at 2 p.m.
The two losing teams will play for the bronze medal on July 24 at 10 a.m.
Letner pointed out that all four teams – Summerside Spartans, Charlottetown Privateers, Cornwall Timberwolves and Kings County Steelers – are represented on P.E.I.’s under16 squad.
“This is the first year we have representation from every club,” said Letner. “There is not a kid on this team that is not ready to play. I think we are going to make a great impact. We are definitely going to (try to) win that gold medal for sure.”
Muirhead, who has a long history of football that includes playing for 10 years, officiating for 13 years and coaching for 20, said the Island under-18 team also has high expectations.
“I want to compete, I want to play hard and I want to win,” said Muirhead, who will have 17 players available to work in and out of the lineup. “Our motto is second to none.
“The Island is not known for its football program, but I think it’s come a long way. I have seen football all across Canada, and I really like what I see here. We are going to go out there and give them a game.”