Calgary Colts head coach Dennis Holowaychuk likes the winning culture Cochrane Cobra alumni will be bringing to the Calgary Colts junior football team this season.

June 1 was national signing day for junior football across Canada, and so far five Cobras alumni have signed with the Calgary team.

Offensive lineman Dominic Mills, receiver Ty Metcalfe, and linebacker Chandler Ball from the Class of 2021 committed earlier this year, and lineman Jude Wilkinson is returning for his second year. Former Cobras QB Brett Conlon has also signed with the team.

Holowaychuk says they are rebuilding the team and changing the culture, and having players from the winning programs like the Cobras helps. 

"You want to get kids that have a bit of a winning tradition. We end up with a lot of kids who are athletic but just haven't had a ton of football experience or come from programs that really don't have a lot of coaches. Not everybody is like Cochrane that has a coach for every position. There are lots of programs that are lucky to have one in-school coach and one other school coach."

He says he's always looking for good football players no matter where they played but admires the Cobras program.

"I know they're coming from a tradition of understanding what it takes to be a successful football, so it's an easy recruit from that perspective. You want the Notre Dame and Francis (Xavier) kids as well that understand what it takes and the commitment it involves."

So far, he's had a chance to see all of the Cochrane players except Ball.

Conlon tried out for quarterback but will be used as a receiver.

"He's got good size and he's a good athlete, so we're excited to have him on the team."

While there were no games last year, he says lineman Wilkinson looked good in their practices and scrimmages.

Linesman training was on again, off again in the off-season because of changing COVID rules, and he was impressed with the strength of Mills.

He recently got his first look at Metcalfe.

"He came out and did a little throwing with us, and I'm excited to see him on the field. He's 6'4" and a very good athlete."

He's pleased with his coaching staff.

"I went after character guys who understand what it is to work hard and commit to the program. I'm a real believer that coaching is also about role modelling. If you have coaches like that, you can develop players into that as well."

The team has had to forego spring tryouts and instead will hold a camp for recruits from July 16-18. The following weekend, returning players and those advancing from the first camp take to the field.

There's been a surge in the number of players expected to try out. Holowaychuk says they are expected about 250. The team normally keeps about 85 players, but he says they will likely keep around 100 on the roster this season.

"I feel so badly for the 2020-21 kids because they really haven't had the opportunity to play football for over a year. Some of the kids need help with development, so we want to give them the opportunity."

While last season was a wash, the Colts were able to work on skill development.

"We ran probably 30 practices last year and ended up with about four scrimmages and a red and white game, and, knock on wood, no COVID."

It's now the waiting game before they can step up training. How practices are conducted will depend upon rules laid out by Football Alberta in conjunction with Alberta Health Services

"The goal over the next month before camp starts is to get them in condition and work on the skills and fundamentals and maybe put in a system so once the camps start we'll be way ahead of the game."

A league schedule is expected to be finalized by June 21. At this point, games against the two Edmonton and two Saskatchewan teams look to be a go. He's not certain about Manitoba.

The Colts will be training and playing at Shouldice Park this season.

"Hellard Field is in great shape, and our locker rooms are just beautiful, gorgeous, and we've got a home, which is a big deal. I can hardly wait to get on the field." 

Holowaychuk was named head coach of the Colts in March 2020 after serving as their offensive coordinator the season previous. He's been coaching for 30 years, including 16 with the University of Calgary Dinos and three years with the UBC Thunderbirds.

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