Bombers give boost to province’s high school football programs
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This article was published 31/08/2023 (612 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Over 500 football players across the province will be wearing brand new helmets this season after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers donated protective headwear to programs in Manitoba, including Steinbach.
The Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres will be getting 15 new helmets courtesy of the province’s pro football team. Program co-ordinator Jamie Peters was on hand at IG Field to accept the donation alongside other football coaches from the province.
“We are committed to helping amateur football grow in our province and to help ensure kids are wearing safe equipment,” Wade Miller, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club said.
In a club news release, Miller credited the expanded donation program to the arts, culture and sport in community fund from the province.
The Bombers have donated over $300,000 in equipment to youth programs this season, in addition to hosting free football camps.
New headgear won’t be the only thing different this season, as the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL) has drastically changed its format this season. Gone are the A, AA, and AAA designations, to be replaced with two divisions, AAAA and AAA. That change moves football in line with other high school sports in Manitoba.
With only two categories, the AAAA division features four geographical divisions. The Sabres will play in the South East Division alongside Dakota, Kelvin, Vincent Massey and Grant Park. Their schedule includes games against their division rivals, and some crossover games.
Each division winner will be guaranteed a spot in the eight-team provincial bracket, joined by four wild card teams. The rest of the standings will have mini-playoffs for trophies.
“These new alignments through our league will bring us closer to the comparison and compete levels of the other major MHSAA Sports while allowing for some friendly rivalries to be built and create lasting friendships on and off the field” league commissioner Jeffrey Bannon said in a news release.
Steinbach will also have a team in the 9-person division of the junior varsity league this season.
The Sabres will host a pre-season game Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. and officially kick off their season at A.D. Penner Park Sept. 8 when they host Dakota.
The change in conference alignment means Springfield Collegiate is now a AAAA team in football. They’ll be playing in the North East division alongside Elmwood, Kildonan East Murdoch McKay Miles Mac and River East.