Team Alberta may have lost to Ontario for the bronze medal in the Football Canada U18 Cup but Cochrane's Jack Tocher gained a wealth of experience by playing against some of the best in Canada.

The Cochrane Cobras all-star receiver was part of the 40-player roster representing Alberta that had a lopsided 36-10 win over Manitoba before losing a nailbiter to Quebec, the eventual cup champion, in the semifinals.

Alberta was up 12-10 coming into the last minute of play but couldn't hold off Quebec from pushing up field and kicking a nine-yard field goal with 15 seconds left on the clock to win, 13-12.

Ontario was leading 13-12 at halftime in the bronze medal game and opened up a lead in the third quarter before Alberta started to turn things around. The comeback fell short and Ontario won 34-29.

The heart-breaker was the lost to Quebec.

"We were winning the whole game and they kicked a field goal in the last 15 seconds to take the lead," says Tocher. "We were so disappointed."

Still, Tocher enjoyed the opportunity to play at the high level championship, hosted by Wolfsville, NS.

"It was awesome. I loved the intensity and I loved the high speed of the game and practices. I gained the knowledge of how to do things quicker and how to be smarter and read the field and know the plays."

Tocher had three catches in the tournament and registered several solid blocks.

One of his reasons for pursuing a spot on the national team was a chance to be seen by more post-secondary scouts. He was approached by a few schools who said they have their eye on him

Tocher is entering his final season of high school ball with the Cobras and, besides school studies, that's his main priority.

"My main focus now is to get ready for next season, do my best and hopefully find somewhere to go to school after November."

Tocher has split his high school football career between the Okotoks Foothills Falcons and Cochrane Cobras and is one of the few players who has won provincial championship rings with two different teams at two different tiers.