By Mitch Bach

Massive Grade 11 group hoping to lead Mohawks to provincials

Aug 22, 2017 | 3:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Entering his 28th season steer-heading the Hat High Mohawks football program, Quinn Skelton knows what it takes to create a championship winning team.

He boasts one of the most impressive coaching resumes in the province, which includes fielding last year’s seniors to three seasons of undefeated league play.

But the long-time head honcho says their short-lived stint in the ASAA Provincial Championships, which saw them go as far as the semi-finals, is still on many of his returning players minds.

“Obviously when you don’t finish where you want to at the end of the year, you come in pretty motivated during the off-season,” he said, as dozens of Mohawks participate in a number of training camp drills at the Hat High school grounds. “(the players) have been working pretty hard down at Badlands with cross-fit and getting some really good training there in the winter. This summer we had kids in the gym as well.”

Skelton got a front-row glimpse into what his 2017 roster presents over the weekend. The first practice was held on Friday, with several more taking place throughout the weekend.

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“I like our balance, our athletic balance that we have out here,” said Skelton, who also coaches the Mohawks rugby program. “From our linemen to our receivers, everyone has worked really hard during the off season.”

He says last year’s crop of graduates leave big shoes to fill for the few entering Grade 12. 

But with more than 20 Grade 11’s returning to action, Skelton says there is a lot of implanted chemistry across all positions.

“Our Grade 11 bunch is probably the strongest group that we’ve ever had,” he continued. “We expect nothing but great things out of them.”

Two stand out Grade 11’s are Tanner Winter and Lachlan Hardiker.

Winter returns to the Green and White after an impressive junior campaign as a running back and half back last year. Hardiker will join the team later this week after helping the U16 Alberta Wolf Pack to a Canadian Rugby National Championship on Sunday.

More photos of Lachlan, along with his @RugbyAlberta squad following a clutch gold medal victory over BC. #U16CRC pic.twitter.com/uB8gV7vQKO

— Mitch Bach (@CHATTVMitchBach) August 20, 2017

“Our team is looking better than it did two weeks last year,” said Winter. “Most of us have been playing together since Grade 7, so we have chemistry all through the years. We’re just going to keep going.”

Winter added he’d like to get into provincials again this year, and believes his team has what it takes to leave with the Tier 2 banner.

Adding experience and speed to the linebacker position is senior Jaren Halladay, who enters the 2017 season undefeated in league play.

He hopes to live up to the impressive reputation of former Mohawk Riley Thomson, who’s moved on to play in the CJFL this season.

“My best friend played the position I’m playing last year,” said Halladay. “I’d like to live up to his legacy and play lots of hard ball. Get lots of sacks.”

The Mohawks continue practice throughout the week with their first game of the season on Saturday hosting the Lacombe Rams at the Methanex Bowl.