Skip to content

Minor football getting ready for season

Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football is getting ready for the start of another season.
Minor football
Truman Ciepliski played for the atom Cudas in a game against Weyburn in September 2018. File photo

Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football is getting ready for the start of another season.

The organization, which has been providing opportunities for youth football players since 2008, will once again have three teams: the U10 Power Dodge Cudas, the U12 Century 21 Border Real Estate Chargers and the U14 Lions Club Oilers.

They will start practices on Aug. 20, with the first two weeks at the Panteluk Athletic Field south of the Estevan Comprehensive School from 6-8 p.m.

Games start at the end of August.

President Kevin Mortenson said they have enough players registered for each team to play this year, but the EMF would like to have a few more.

“We’re sitting at about 20 players on each team. It would be nice to add some depth to each team, especially for the older ones, the Oilers, because I think they’re just shy of 20.”

If they could add 10 more for the Oilers, that would be great.

“Everybody who played in 2018 that’s supposed to be playing for the Oilers is registered to come and play. We didn’t lose any players, but we didn’t gain any, either.”

A few players will usually register the first week of practice.

The EMF is also looking for coaches. The Cudas will be coached by Jeremy Ciepliski, the Chargers by Matt Schell and the Oilers by Paul Duncan.

All three teams play in the Moose Jaw Minor Football League. The Cudas will play tackle football with six players on the field per team, and will play in what Mortenson called jamboree-style competitions, with mini games using a smaller field.

Estevan’s jamboree will be Sept. 29.

“Football Canada is mandating … that there would be far less contact if there’s only six players on the field on each team, and better development for the kids,” said Mortenson.

The U12 and the U14 teams will have nine people on the field during games. Both teams will be facing opponents from Assiniboia, Weyburn and Moose Jaw.

“The key word is development,” said Mortenson. “We’re just trying to develop them as players, and develop the sport.”

They will play on a full-length field, but the sidelines will be a little narrower.

Mortenson noted Swift Current has dropped out of the league to compete in a southeast Alberta circuit, but Mortenson hopes they will be back next year. The Swift Current high school team will still be competing in the Moose Jaw league with Estevan and other teams.

The EMF will host Football Day in Estevan on Sept. 28. The Chargers and the Oilers will both be in action, and Mortenson hopes the Cudas can be involved somehow, since their jamboree isn’t until the next day.

The Elecs will be playing a road game that day.