Football growing in small steps

Troy Semenchuk grew up in Saskatoon, where football reigns supreme.

Upon moving to Prince Albert to teach and take over as head coach of the Carlton Crusaders football program, he received a rude awakening.

At first when talking to potential players about trying out for his team, he was told that their hockey coaches wouldn't let them play both sports, despite little overlap in seasons.

Times have changed, however, and Carlton's roster numbers have grown. Still, the program has a long way to go before it catches up to Saskatoon's top schools.

"It was frustrating when I first got here, growing up in Saskatoon, where football is the top dog in terms of high school athletics," said Semenchuk.

After losing in the Saskatoon High School Football League's 3A final last year, the Crusaders will likely move up a level and play in the 4A division this year.

Despite an impressive 5-1 regular season in 2007, Semenchuk thinks his team will be in tough come fall against some of Saskatoon's powerhouse squads such as Aden Bowman Collegiate or Holy Cross High School.

"Football is a huge draw in their schools, whereas we are just starting to get to that point," said Semenchuk.

There is a silver lining. Carlton has a tradition of ex-players returning from Canadian university or junior football to help coach, and then there was the interest created by the 2007 Grey Cup win by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Carlton alumnus Martin Skiffington manned the offensive line for the junior Saskatoon Hilltops and the University of Manitoba Bisons, where he played on the 2007 Vanier Cup champions.

Skiffington is one of a number of coaches who return home to give back to Carlton football.

"Football has given our staff a lot of opportunity and they see that and want to pass it on to the kids," said Semenchuk.

For the first time in almost two decades, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are defending Grey Cup champions and Semenchuk expects to see a big boost in the number of students coming out for tryout camps.

More television exposure means more parents and kids watching games, which means ballooning interest in the game.

"Any coach you talk to in high school football will tell you that after the Riders won the Grey Cup in '89, that next fall they had record numbers come out for football," said Semenchuk.

In his tenure as head coach of the Crusaders, Semenchuk has seen a number of changes. More schools have football now, including Meath Park and the revived St. Mary High School program.

More and more, Semenchuk finds himself running into Prince Albert products at prospect camps with his work as a coach for Team Saskatchewan.

"With all the interest and all the teams, it can become a bit of a football town."

rnorthrop@paherald.sk.ca