The Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School Clippers football team has begun practising for the upcoming Rural Manitoba Football League season.
And while there will be some holes to fill from last year’s Murray Black Cup winning roster, head coach Gerald Lopez likes the way things are shaping up..
“I think we’ll be competitive,” Lopez said.
“We are probably getting on average about 25 players per practice. In the beginning there was a lot of younger players and now that the Summer Games is all done, all the veteran players are all returning.”
The team will have to adjust to the loss of graduating players Will Miner, Owen Tyschinski and Lars Gudbjartson, he added.
Miner was a a powerhouse running back who went looking for contact. Last season he had 87 carries for 828 yards with one touchdown and one fumble.
Tyschinski was an anchor on the Clippers’ offensive line and a force downfield on special teams while at six feet, five inches in height,
Gudbjartson was an imposing figure on the Clippers defensive line recording 18 tackles, six assists, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 2023.
And while Tyschinski and Gudbjartson are now plying their trade with the Westshore Rebels in Langford, B.C., there are some talented players ready to fill the holes they left.
“Sully Fox will be returning to lead our club in this year’s campaign. His presence defensively will set the tone of our game. I have no doubt in my mind defensive coach Tomkins will transform his defensive group to be, once again, the top unit the RMFL. Blake Thacker, Jackson Cheater and Brendon Higgins are expected to be leaders on our defence,” Lopez said.
“Zach Perih and Kingston Sterling will anchor our matured offensive line while Chaynes Paziuk and Russell Pelltier will be the downhill runners.”
Lopez added there is also a good crop of rookies looking to join the program including Ronin Mouke, Chase Glover, Alex Thompson and Julien Lopez.
“They will be rookies on the football field but are standout athletes in other sports such as hockey and rugby,” he said.
“I have no doubt they will provide an immediate impact to our club.”
While the schedule is still being adjusted to account for the Transcona Nationals not being able to join the league as expected, as it stands now the Clippers will open the season at home Sept. 6, versus the Swan Valley Tigers.
“We’ll be competitive. They’ll be learning from the start, but we’ll bring it on as the season progresses,” Lopez said.
