Kelly Bates is always happy to return to home territory for his youth football camps.
The 12th annual Kelly Bates Football Camp was no exception as 90 high school football players from grades 9 to 11 from 24 school football programs joined Bates and his all-star coaching staff at St. Peter’s Abbey on April 29 to 30.
This is always one of his favourite weekends, says Bates.
“It always very humbling to see the amount of work put in by so many people coupled with the commitment of the parents to bring kids from all four corners of the province to culminate a great weekend of football.”
With how many people were involved in the weekend, from getting the field ready to setting up food and information packages, Bates says it is very satisfying to see the weekend go off so well.
Numbers are down a little bit with the camp usually welcoming around a hundred players but Bates says they are looking forward to numbers going back up for next years camp.
No matter the numbers, the players always put in their all to make it a hardworking weekend, says Bates. The talent level was probably at its highest this year, he says.
“The kids who come to these camps, their work ethic is always amazing...they never disappoint in that respect, they always work their butt off.”
Working on the fundamentals of the game, Bates is always excited to see the massive improvement even from just Saturday to Sunday.
Bates noted at the end of the weekend that his coaching staff, including some current CFL players, jumped at the chance to come out to Muenster to help out and lend their expertise.
“We’re trying to do something which, as a graduate of HCI, wasn’t available to us when we were there. I believe that’s the whole purpose and mind set of community and building community.”
Bates had a great experience playing football in Humboldt and he still wants to be a part of that opportunity for young people.
For the second year in a row, the MVP Award from the Camp was presented in honour of Justin Gaja, Carter Stevenson, and Kristian Skalicky, three teens from Carrot River who were on their way home from the camp in 2015 when they were involved in a highway crash near Spalding. All three boys died in the crash.
Bates says football was something that these young men loved dearly and this is an opportunity and an obligation to honour their memory.
“The loss of them to the community of Carrot River and the football community in general was so devastating and so huge that we want to continue to honour those young men.”
This award was made even more special since Camp MVP Wyatt Kendall was also a relation to one of the young men.
“Speaking with him and his mom after the fact was very humbling,” says Bates.
The community support and assistance was much appreciated by both Bates and his staff.
Dates have already been set for next years camp with Bates planning to be back the first weekend in May.
KBFC Awards:
Camp MVP - Wyatt Kendall: Carrot River
Quarterback:
Senior: Matthew Wilson - Holy Cross Crusaders
Junior: Bryce Welter - Viscount Vikings
Running Back:
Senior: Carter McLean - Evan Hardy Souls
Junior: Austin Wood - Tisdale Tornados
Receiver:
Senior: Hunter Shmon - Clavet Cougars
Junior: Dylan Hofer - Evan Hardy Souls
Offensive Line:
Senior: Cooper Tropeau - Holy Cross Crusaders
Junior: Blake Michelle - St. Mary Marauders
Defensive Line:
Senior: Luke Turner - Assiniboia Rockets
Junior: Edan Duncan - Delisle Rebels
Line Backer:
Senior: Nathan Nixey - Tommy Douglas Tigers
Junior: Ryley Amendt - Watson Raiders
Defensive Back:
Senior: Evan Mantyka - Evan Hardy Souls
Junior: Seth Noel - Delisle Rebels
