Owen Hubert signed by Marauders
Hard work paying off for Norwood District High football player
NORWOOD — The McMaster Marauders football team sees a lot of potential in Norwood District High School’s Owen Hubert.
The Grade 12 student and Peterborough Wolverines linebacker signed a letter of intent on Thursday to join McMaster next fall. Family, coaches, friends and McMaster officials attended the signing ceremony in the NDHS gymnasium.
The six-foot-four, 225-pound Hubert played linebacker for the Wolverines and quarterback for the Knights six-a-side senior team that won its league this year.
The Marauders envision him as a linebacker.
“He’s got a super-high ceiling and a ton of potential,” said Marauders defensive coach Scott Brady.
“The fact he’s as big, long and athletic as he is, that’s everything you’re looking for on the defensive side. You’re looking for these long-limbed, big-framed athletes who can run. He’s got an extremely high ceiling if he puts in the work.”
Hubert was a tall, gangly 160 pounds when he switched from soccer to football in Grade 9 at Norwood. The next summer he joined the Wolverines.
“My first year with the Wolverines coach (Ken) Butcher told me there had been some universities who looked at me,” Hubert said.
“I was kind of shocked because I didn’t feel like I was that good of a player, being a smaller player at 160 pounds. I couldn’t believe it.”
He gained 40 pounds the next year and has kept on growing. The number of interested schools also grew.
“I had a fair amount of schools who contacted me. Some made harder pushes than others but McMaster just felt right,” Hubert said.
“My first visit to McMaster I loved the campus right away. It’s a great place. I wanted to go somewhere I felt comfortable and I felt that right away. I went to some of their training camps and practices and it just felt right.
The coaching staff is fantastic and very supportive.”
John Parkes, McMaster’s recruiting co-ordinator was also Hubert’s senior varsity Wolverines coach for two years.
“He was the only junior to ever move up and play senior,” Parkes said. “He did that for us in the playoffs in his final year of junior varsity. He’s always been able to play with older guys. Owen has everything we’re looking for in a recruit. He has the athletic ability. He has the desire and the grittiness to play at the next level. We have a few Wolverines now coming to Mac and we’re excited to see what is becoming a tradition.”
Dylan Astrom, Joe Bencze and Connor Murney are other Wolverines to join McMaster.
Signing his letter and putting on a Mac jersey was a special moment.
“I wanted to play at the next level. It was a dream of mine,” Hubert said.
“My mom Kristina played basketball at the University of Illinois on a D1 scholarship and it’s kind of been in my family of having good athletic genes. I knew I could do it and a lot of people supported me.”
Hubert’s father Patrick played high level football in the U.S. until an injury prevented him from reaching the collegiate level, said Owen.
“Owen is a great player who works hard,” said Norwood coach Rick Thompson, also a Wolverines coach.
“He should definitely make the jump to U Sports and be a pretty successful player. Owen understands the game well and has the eyes to understand and know what to key on and get his cues. That will definitely help at the next level once he gets that higher level coaching.”
Hubert knows a lot of work lies ahead. “It’s exciting,” he said. “I know it’s a good team and a good coaching staff and I look forward to giving it my best effort.”