Barons alumni impart gridiron wisdom

LCHS football head coach Kieran Link runs passing drills with the Barons’ defence on Saturday afternoon with the help of a handful of alumni players. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

It’s hard to imagine kids wanting to spend an entire weekend at school, but with football instruction from Barons’ alumni on the table, these youngsters were asking for seconds.

Roughly 50 current and future Barons spent the weekend going over football fundamentals at Armstrong Field under the direction of Barons coaching staff and a handful of passionate alumni players, many of whom currently play U Sport or Junior football.

“This weekend is all about development,” said LCHS Barons football head coach Kieran Link.

“We have players from peewee age here, so there are some guys in Grade 6 up to Grade 11 and we’ve split them up into a younger ground and an older group, so they’re matched with their skill and ability.”

Guest coaches included Justin Kelly–Saskatoon Hilltops, Josh Dunham– Acadia Axemen, Joel Gordon, Xander Pierce–Saskatoon Huskies, Anton Amundrud– Saskatoon Huskies, Riley Richardson–Alberta Golden Bears, Ryden Gratton–Saskatoon Hilltops, Keagan Parks–Edmonton Huskies, and Cole Bloxam of the Windsor Lancers.

For Amundrud, the weekend was an opportunity to give back to the community he calls home, while helping the next generation of Barons excel on the field.

“Today we’re having a little alumni camp, teaching the youth and having a good time,” said Amundrud, who graduated from LCHS in 2020 and just finished his fourth year as a quarterback with the U of S Huskies.

“My first year there was quite the shock because you’re playing with a bunch of grown men who are so big and strong when you’re used to playing in high school,” he explained.

“I’ve been there for four years now, and it’s been a really fun time.”

For Link, the hope is for the younger players to look up to older guys, many of whom he’s coached at LCHS.

“There are some really cool role models here, whether they’re in high school or playing at the next level, that’s really cool, but also, seeing the knowledge base,” he said. “These guys coming back are very knowledgeable, we want the kids to learn from them and look up to them.

“They’re teaching, they’re on the chalkboard, and it’s been cool seeing them take on a teacher/leadership role. I don’t know if they’ve done some of that before, so it’s been awesome to see them grow.”