It was a tough start to the season for Sylvan Lake Bears peewee football team, who lost 54-0 against Stettler Panthers Saturday.
Head coach Garnet Rambaut felt there were many factors that played into the Bears’ loss, and is anticipating a challenging season for his players.
Remaining upbeat, and concentrating on the future, however, he hopes things can turn around in time for their second game in Innisfail Saturday.
“Hopefully our fortunes will prove to be a little bit better than what they were (against Stettler),” he said.
With only 17 players on the weekend, his team’s chances of winning were hampered, and he hopes more can be recruited soon.
“What’s happening, is you’ve only got five players coming off the field at any time. The rest of them have to stay on, so you’re playing offence, defence, special teams.”
Of the 17 players, only five are returning. The rest are new to the team. With that in mind, Rambaut feels Saturday’s result was “not unexpected”. This year will be a rebuilding year for the team.
“It looks like next year will actually be a very good year, because we’ll have at least 15 people coming up from the Tigers, so that will make a difference,” he said.
“We could be anywhere up to 35 players, and that makes a huge difference.”
Nonetheless, this season remains priority, said Rambaut. He and his players will be moving “onward and upwards” as they attempt to achieve success in coming games.
“I’m very proud of them, they never quit,” he said. “It’s the kind of thing that’s a learning experience for them.”
According to Rambaut, he is backed this year by “great staff”, including new coaches, as well as others who have been with the team for a while.
“They’re working really hard and it will come together,” he said.
The team currently practises four times a week, and plays games on Saturdays in a short, intensive season.
Rambaut admits his players may come up against challenges similar to that faced against Stettler on the weekend, but believes their attitude will help them toward success.
“There’s an awful lot of learning that goes on at this level,” he said. “They’re a great age group to work with because they still like to learn, and they’re excellent kids.”
The Bears head to Innisfail for their first away game Saturday, before travelling to Olds on Sept. 28. They return to Sylvan Lake to host Red Deer Hornets at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5 at H.J. Cody Field.