HCI Mohawks kick off 2021 season, celebrate 50 years of team

“Biggest thing I would say, just some basic skills in blocking and tackling. I saw a lot of errors in that tonight. Those are your basic skills that you know you need to rep over and over.”

The loss did not put a damper on the atmosphere of a night game and the great crowd who showed up to cheer on the Mohawks.

Popoff said they have a great parents group that helped out with painting the field, running the concession, and a great announcer for the game in Lambert Stumborg.

As a coach, Popoff said he feels spoiled to have such great support.

With new restrictions coming down from the provincial government, Popoff said they will not be worried for now about not getting a full season of high school football. They have to train like the season will continue, he said.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do in keeping these kids safe and also keeping them competitive. So we’re pretty dedicated as coaches in doing so and the players are fantastic.”

The Mohawks will next take on Martensville on home turf on Oct. 1.

50th Anniversary Homecoming

With the first home game of the season came this year’s homecoming celebration, this year celebrating 50 years of football at HCI.

Even with still being in a pandemic, administrator of Student Activities and homecoming organizer Brian Grest told northeastNOW he was happy to see former players from over 50 years coming to celebrate with the new players. As a former player himself, the night couldn’t have gone better.

“They always refer to football as the ultimate team sport and it really is. I’m standing here tonight visiting with about eight of my former teammates and classmates, and that means the world to me.”

The celebration also honoured the first head coach of the team, Pete Smith, who started the program in Humboldt in 1972 before leaving a year later.

Grant Staples would take over and would bring a championship to Humboldt three years later in 1975.

Grest said they had been trying to get a hold of Smith recently to invite him to the homecoming two years ago, especially since eight of his players from that first season were also hoping to connect with him.

Unfortunately, Grest got word recently that Smith had passed away in June. A halftime moment of silence was dedicated to Smith, as well as other teammates that have passed away.

“Losing your teammates, losing your comrades, it really hits home how important the memories were when we built them and how important it is to try and stay in touch with those people through the years.”

For Staples, there is no other team sport like football, and he recalls many students who admitted to him over the years that they never would have made it through high school without it.

“I’m not saying just football, but team sports are so very important for personal development for young people that are searching for identity, searching for things in life.”

For Popoff, it was great for the alumni to see how the program is still running strong, even after 50 years.

–

becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim

by Becky Zimmer

HCI Mohawks kick off 2021 season, celebrate 50 years of team

What's Trending