Four members of the Cochrane Cobras have been shortlisted for the Team Alberta U17/U18 football teams, it was recently announced by Football Alberta.

Cobras quarterback Xavier Vaillancourt and receivers Dawson Gladue, Dawson Laye and Jake Thompson are among the 100 players selected from nearly 400 who attended a super weekend camp in Edmonton, Jan. 12-14. 

Three of these Cobras are eligible to make either team while receiver Dawson Laye is in the running for the U18 team.

Cobras co-head coach Rob McNab says Matthias Mailer will also be attending the next camp after receiving permission to miss the first one due to other commitments. There were other potential candidates from the team, he points out, but due to injuries or other summer commitments did not attend.

He believes they all have a good shot at securing spots on the team and praises their commitment and work ethic.

"When people see a 'C' on their helmet hopefully they realize that they come from a top program in the province and that we're sending them there for a reason. Now, will they make the final 40? Well, that's up to the coaches."

It's the most Cobras who have opted to try out for the teams and McNab suspects it's because it's being promoted more prominently and the players are paying closer attention.

Now the players will be required to attend February and March camps in Edmonton before the final rosters are selected at a Calgary camp in April. Rosters of 40 players will be selected for both the U17 and U18 teams. In the meantime, the candidates all continue their regular off-season training on top of their involvement in other winter sports.

The U17 will be competing in the Pacific Challenge being hosted by Maui, Hawaii that will include a U17 Saskatchewan team and local Hawaiian high schools. Team Alberta U18 that will compete in the Football Canada Cup this summer being hosted in Calgary, July 15-22. 

Defensive lineman Scott Macdonald and linebacker Colin Clarke, of Springbank, also advanced.