The York Lions football team is up and running, preparing for another season this fall. Training camp opened this past week, with players and coaches getting back into their respective grooves.
The first face-off was a pre-season away game versus the Carleton Ravens on August 23. According to head coach Warren Craney, the game against the Ravens is a chance for players to gain experience and improve their play for the upcoming season.
“It is not a competitive game. It’s two teams looking to get better and looking at their first opponents. We are still evaluating our players which is why we are bringing the entire team of 80 players to get them prepped and ready to play.”
The Ravens are lucky this year, as they are one of two non-combatant teams for the Lions and will not be facing them in the regular season. Following several years of heavy recruiting, Craney is satisfied with the team he has put together but acknowledges that there is work still to be done.
“It’s been a big task from when we first got here. We’ve done a great job in recruiting and we have really good players in various positions but the work is not done. We have to keep getting these kids better and keep bringing in better and better players every year.”
The recruitment drive has resulted in a large class of new players, according to offensive linesman Christopher Kolankowski.
“We had a big recruiting class,” says Kolankowski. The one before us was even larger. Many of our leaders now are the guys that coach Craney recruited.”
When asked about last year’s season, coach Craney says it had been a difficult schedule for the Lions. Focusing on the main strength of the team being offense, the coach is confident that with further work from the players it will ensure a successful season for the Lions.
“Obviously, last season was disappointing. We had a tough schedule. But I am confident we will do a great job with our offense. We’re young, but we have to keep coaching our players and getting better and help our offense out as much as we can,” he says.
“If we can get the defense to improve, I am looking forward to a really good season.”
The team has had to make some adjustments following Myles Gibbon’s graduation and departure from the team.
Kolankowski says there is increased leadership from younger players.
“We have younger guys stepping up now and I have to assume more command at the line with directing traffic where Myles would have done so before. I have to step up to make life easier for the quarterbacks.”
The Lions are playing their first season game away from home on September 1 against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. Their first home game is on September 6 against the Western Mustangs.
Alex Kvaskow, Sports Editor
Photos by Kinga Szymcyzk
