Wally Genz surveys his fresh crop of peewee football players. One row stands shoulder to shoulder, the next on one knee in front.
“We might not win every game…” says Genz, musing calmly.
Then at an increasing volume: “but there's a pretty good chance we're gonna do what?” he bellows towards the team like a drill sergeant.
“Dominate!” they roar back.
“Do what?” he taunts.
“Dominate!” comes the reply – twice more.
This is the kind of instruction that won Genz the Scotiabank Game Changer award. It's also the kind of team building that led Innisfail peewees to an undefeated season last year.
“It was amazing,” said Genz. “We like being the underdog.”
J.T. Thompson, who helped coach the peewees last year and is now taking the reins for the tiny bantam squad, remembers the past season fondly.
“It was the most destructive team I've ever coached,” Thompson said, asserting that with the right commitment and buzz that momentum can be carried into higher levels as well. “Even in bantam we'll be a dynasty. We just have to get people around to the idea that we can do it.”
That may be easier said than done in a town that prides itself on its hockey roots.
“We need kids and we need them fast,” he admitted.
Luckily thanks to fresh signups in the past week the team is inching towards the necessary numbers to field a squad. So far they have 21 players, but are still hoping for more.
“The bantam program is a go,” he announced. “It's gonna be exciting.”
Peewee coaching staff is rounded out by Rob Walker, Brandyn Blain, Derrick Auton and Jason Lutte. In addition to Thompson the bantam coaching duties will be handled by Nolan Lorenz, Darcy Slager, Tyler Desnoyer and Jim Swinston.
