Cross-border trips have become the norm for many club teams as part of their preparation for an upcoming season and often times heading down to a country where football is king can be an overwhelming and intimidating experience.
Don’t tell that to the Westside Warriors Pee Wee team.
Two Saturdays ago, Coach Mike Pauls took his Pee Wee Warriors squad down to Burlington, Washington – about a 30-minute drive south of Bellingham – to be the BC and Canadian representative at the North Cascades Youth Football League tournament. In fact, the Warriors were the first-ever Canadian team to ever be invited to participate in this tournament.
Teams that make trips to the States often marvel at the caliber of play in their American counterparts and the participating teams in the North Cascades tournament was no exception according to Coach Pauls. Knowing they would be facing some very stiff competition, combined with the fact the Warriors were missing several of their key players and also had to adjust to playing American rules, it could easily have been frustrating day for the Warriors. But perhaps that’s what makes the Warriors’ story such a compelling one.
“I knew we were in for something that none of the parents or kids or most of us coaches had ever experienced,” said Coach Pauls. “We were not in the VMFL anymore. This was America.
“We knew we were missing about a third of our team – some terrific players who were injured or away on holidays and now other kids would need to step up and play harder.”
Playing harder and being competitive is one thing. Dominating a tournament where you were expected to be an underdog is something entirely different but that’s exactly what the Warriors managed to do.
The Warriors opened the tournament with three straight victories to set up a final clash against the Burlington Tigers, the hometown favourites and tournament hosts. In that championship final, it was the Warriors defence that stepped up in a big way holding the Tigers off the scoreboard and as the Warriors offence put up one touchdown which was all they needed for the win.
What do the Pee Wee Warriors plan to do now for an encore? A provincial championship would certainly be nice.
They’ll start the journey towards that ultimate goal on Sunday, September 4 when they open their regular season at Carnarvon Park facing the Vancouver Trojans.
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