Three Cochrane football players have shown they have the right stuff and will be part of the team representing Alberta in a U17 bowl in Hawaii in August.

Quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt and receivers Jake Thompson and Dawson Gladue have all made the cut after four months of development camps that started with 400 players seeking positions with the U18 and U17 teams in January.

Xavier Vaillancourt keeps his arm warm on the sideline during the final scrimmage of camp, Apr. 22. The roster was announced Apr. 30.

All three are members of last season's provincial championship Cochrane Cobras and they have all previously played together in minor football for the Cochrane Lions.

Quarterback Vaillancourt is looking forward to Hawaii's Pacific Challenge.

"We're playing against American teams, so it is always going to be tough against them. It's going to be good."

Regardless of whether a player made Team Alberta or not, the benefits of the training camps are nothing but positive, he believes.

"I think it really helps everyone become better players, even if you got cut. It's good for all the teams in Alberta."

Team Alberta has one more preparation camp sometime in June.

The Pacific Challenge is being hosted by Maui, Hawaii and includes one more Canadian entry--U17 Saskatchewan--and Hawaiian high school teams.

In the meantime, all three players are now in camp for the Cochrane Cobras. It opened May 1 and goes outdoors on June 1.