The Gatineau Vikings are pleased to announce that four of its former players have made it to the final cut of the Quebec U-18 provincial Football program. The process started in March with 450 players across Quebec trying out for the Provincial team. There are currently 100 players left for the last camp in June. At that time, 50 players will be selected to represent Quebec at the National Championship to be held in London Ontario in July.
The players and positions are as follows:
Mike Aruda QB
Griffin Harding DL
Pat Davis OL
Mathieu Bradley R
All four of these players played with the Vikings for 4 seasons or more. Also the Vikings had four former players ( Mike Aruda, Griffin Harding, Pat Davis and Thomas Carrier) selected for the 2011 Quebec U-17 Challenge Wilson Cup all-star team. Both Pat Davis and Griffin Harding would be eligible to participate at the U-18 level in 2013 as well as they are just 16)
The Vikings enter its 7th season as a club participating in the National Capital Amateur Football Association. The club has yet to win an A cup, but that has never been the sole goal. We have always stressed developed of the player, over trophies. At the present time, the club has fourteen players playing in the OVFL at 3 levels. This year will also see our first crop of graduates take the field in Quebec CEGEP league. Currently there are nine former players trying out with the Outaouais Griffons, who are coached by former Ottawa U Head Coach Denis Piche.
In 2007, the Gatineau Vikings started a tackle football house league for boys aged 8 to 12. The slogan of the league was and still is, “everyone hits, everyone plays”. Teams are limited to 20 players, allowing for full participation, we have seen over 1200 boys and girls taste the sport during the last six years. It’s grassroots football the way it should be. Fun. Interestingly enough, all the players that I’ve mentioned in the above paragraph either started or have played in the LFMO (La Ligue de football mineur de l’Outaouais).
Finally, the club is also proud to launch our post secondary bursary program. All former players who have played for us at the pee-wee level are eligible to apply for a 1000 dollar bursary to attend a post secondary school or equivalent technical training program once they have graduated high school. The club will be handing out 5 of these 1000 dollar bursaries a year. We will be announcing the 2012 winners in August.
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
