When
the Cumberland Panthers Football Club decided to shut down
its varsity program earliest this year, it left huge void
in the spring and summer season.
That void
was filled by the National Capital Amateur Football Association
(NCAFA) which partnered with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
to start the Jr. Gee-Gees U15 and U17 Select football program.
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| Cumberland
Panther and NCAFA Jr. Gee-Gees running back Clark O'Connor
sprints past the outstretched hand of a Nicolas-Gatineau
defender in their exhibition game on Saturday, May 11.
FRED SHERWIN PHOTO |
Both Summer
Elite Teams (S.E.T.) have a major Panther influence with
several Panther coaches deciding to lend their expertise
to the project.
Former
Jr. Varsity coach Jeff Koradi is the head coach of the U15
S.E.T. team. His assistants include Larry Ring, Panthers
Peewee head coach Mike Scmidt, former Peewee head coach
Julian DaSilva and Panther assistants Mike Hendricks and
Eric Parent.
Both teams
will play up to five exhibition games in preparation for
the Nike Challenge Cup which will be contested between seven
different regional teams from Quebec and the Jr. Gee-Gees.
The two-week tournament will be held in Montr�al in late
July.
The U15
team coached by Koradi won their first exhibition game 12-0
over a bantam varsity team from Oshawa. They lost their
second game 27-16 to �cole polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau.
Koradi
is confident they will be able the players will be on their
game by the time the Nike Challenge Cup roles around.
The U15
team has no fewer than 14 Panther players in its ranks including
running backs Clark O'Connor and Henry Hollo and six down
lineman -- Daniel Sungani, Luca Beumer. Jeffrey Kalambayi,
Joshua Maat, Cayden Metallic-Janvier and Sam Gauthier.
Other
Panther players include wide receiver Ibrahim Mari, defensive
back Hugo Djeumeni, and linebackers Aiden Peterson and Michael
Desforges.
The S.E.T.
program is designed to give the players access to top-notch
coaching and the opportunity to play the best teams in Qu�bec.
The season is also over by the end of July, given the players
at least a month off before they start NCAFA's fall season.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
TAPROOM 260 presents Bird King live from 8 p.m. No cover charge. Located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE at Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Bvd. "A Very Noisy Christmas" at 5 p.m.; "Countdown to Christmas" at 7 p.m.; "Candlelight Communion Service" at 9 p.m..
TAPROOM 260 presents Ryan King live from 8 p.m. No cover charge. Located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Rory Taillon from 8 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For tickets visit straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
ORLÉANS GREENS CHRISTMAS PARTY 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Queenswood Heights Cummunity Centre, 1485 Duford St. Light snacks will be served. Kids and adults of all ages are welcome.
