If they鈥檙e not the most talented minor football team around, then at least they鈥檒l be the sharpest looking.
The brand new Howe Sound Hitmen youth football club has arrived, stocked with new equipment, youthful enthusiasm and fresh new jerseys.
The team is the brainchild of 麻豆社国产resident Troy Wilton, who saw a void in local youth football.
鈥淟ast year my son decided he wanted to play football and I looked into whether we had a team here in 麻豆社国产or not,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have one and we spent the fall going to Whistler for practices and North Vancouver for games.鈥�
Wilton, who grew up in Squamish, said youth football has been lacking since he was young and wanted to give local kids the chance to hit the gridiron.
鈥淎fter last year I was determined to get a team here,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it took a lot of work to get the word out.鈥�
He went to every elementary school and dropped off flyers, he posted messages all over Facebook and eventually over 20 kids showed up to the team鈥檚 most recent practice earlier this month.
The Hitmen will play in the North Shore Flag League this spring to get used to the game and will join up with the GSL in the fall. Wilton was also responsible for helping to supply the team with new equipment, jerseys and other protective gear.
鈥淚鈥檓 big on if you look good then you feel good and if you feel good then you play good,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he GSL supplies equipment and jerseys but I wanted to get the kids as much gear as I could.鈥�
He said he did fundraising and also got a lot of help from Howe Sound Chrysler Dodge to hook the team up. The new jerseys are black with red numbers and are already a hit with the kids. Wilton said the team is looking for players all the time and anyone born in 2002 or 2003 can suit up for the team.
鈥淎ny kids are welcome to come out to our practices,鈥� he said, noting the team will practice twice a week and have games once a week. 鈥淚 plan on continuing to coach the team when my son moves up.鈥�
Wilton said he鈥檚 also been working with Howe Sound Sounders coach Jim Errington and the Hitmen could become a pipeline to the high school club.
鈥淓ventually our team will be a feeder team for him,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e told me that sometimes he has to teach kids from scratch, but now kids will know the basics from me and it鈥檒l be an easier transition to high school football.鈥�
He said he鈥檚 looking for volunteers to help out with coaching and other team duties. Anyone interested can contact him at [email protected]. For more information, see the Howe聽Sound聽Hitmen聽minor聽football聽team Facebook group.
