By Martin Martinson

Crusaders football fast approaching

Aug 14, 2018 | 8:00 AM

For many, September brings with it a season of new beginnings.

For Bruce Yockey, Vice Principal at John Paul II Collegiate, this time of year is one he looks forward to for a multitude of reasons. In addition to his role as vice-principal of the high school, Yockey is also the head coach of the school’s football team: the John Paul II Collegiate Crusaders. He’s held the position for nearly a decade. 

“I’ve been the coach right from the time we got the program started,” Yockey said. “We’re going into year eight I believe this year.”

The Crusaders are coming off a bit of a transition year last season. The team went 2-4; a record that saw them finish fourth out of six teams in the conference.

“Last year we had to use more Grade 9’s on the senior team than I would’ve liked, just because of our numbers, and with the number of kids we had that graduated the year before. But they are good athletes, and we were kind of in a situation where we needed those young kids,” Yockey said.

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Coach Yockey went on to say he believes the added experience some of the younger players received last season should only help their game, come the start of this season.

“They’re going to be another year bigger, stronger and faster, with the experience they gained. Many of them also played with some club teams during the spring and were in different camps, so yeah – we’re excited about our young kids and where they’ll be at this year.”

On the topic of community support, coach Yockey has seen the level of excitement surrounding the team grow each year since the program began.

It’s been awesome. We worked a few years ago to get our own field right across from our school, right at J.PII, and we get excellent support from our parents, other students and their friends and relatives,” Yockey said.  “We play on Thursdays at home and people come out. It’s a good atmosphere. Our SRC does a good job providing all kinds of half-time entertainment, with draws for prizes and stuff, so yeah, it’s something that’s been building up and we’re looking forward to this season.”

Fall practice for the Crusaders gets underway August 23. The regular season opener kicks off at home, September 6.

martin.martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1