Muskies to play in Winnipeg football league

A half-century of NorWOSSA football is dead.
In a move that has been in serious works since last November’s NorWOSSA title game here, the Fort High Muskies, Kenora Broncos, and Dryden Eagles have joined the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL), which released its schedule for the coming season Monday.
The Muskies will play in the 16-team Tier 1 Division, with both Kenora and Dryden to compete in Tier II.
The on-field situation with just three teams competing in NorWOSSA was the biggest and most logical reason for the move, noted Muskie head coach Bob Swing.
“Basically, we were sick and tired of beating each other up,” he said of the schedule that had the teams play each other three times over the season.
While the Muskies have played Winnipeg teams in exhibition games in the past, Swing said playing against tougher competition on a steady basis not only will challenge his squad but also give their star players more exposure.
“There’s a little more excitement because you’re playing city teams. The big city-type atmosphere,” he said. “And the better athletes get better exposure to both Canadian and American scouts.”
“I just think this is a wonderful opportunity for our kids,” agreed Fort High principal Ian Simpson.
Simpson said the coaches from the three teams approached their respective schools for approval. It wasn’t until the Muskies got the green light from the Rainy River District School Board that participating in city football began to look more of a reality.
The NorWOSSA governing board also voted unanimously in favour of the move, thus ending more than 50 years of organized high school football in the region.
There will be a $2,000-3,000 league fee to enter, payable at the end of this coming season. The figure varies due to adjustments the league has to make in the expansion.
But Simpson stressed the school’s budget–and taxpayers–won’t be on the hook for any increase in travel costs.
“We don’t anticipate an increase to the cost of the school,” said Simpson. “There will be no increase in the athletic money and the amount spent by Fort Frances High School this year.”
Swing noted any additional funding will be raised by the Muskie Touchdown Club. But Simpson said they don’t anticipate it will face that much of an increase in expenses.
The Muskies will play seven games during the regular season, beginning Friday, Sept. 7 against the Kelvin Clippers here and wrapping up with a league crossover game Friday, Oct. 19 (site to be determined).
The black-and-gold will play three-straight road games against the defending champion Oak Park Raiders (Sept. 14), Grant Park Pirates (Sept. 21), and River East Kodiaks (Sept. 28) before hosting the Churchill Bulldogs on Oct. 5 (Homecoming), and then the Sisler Spartans on Oct. 12.
The top eight teams will make the playoffs, which get underway with the quarter-finals Saturday, Oct. 27 at Winnipeg Stadium.
The semi-finals are set for Friday, Nov. 3, with the final for the Avanets Cup (WHSFL championship) on Saturday, Nov. 10 (all at Winnipeg Stadium).
The Muskies also are scheduled to play an exhibition game against the International Falls Broncos on Friday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. over there.
WHSFL commissioner Ron Gustafson credited Swing with making the big push this winter after several years of informal discussions. He said fans here can expect to see more competitive football on the field.
“I think it will be a good brand of football that fans in Northwestern Ontario will enjoy,” he enthused.
Simpson agreed, adding the emphasis remains on learning–and the experiences the game brings.
“It’s a better educational experience. We still have our ties with Northwestern Ontario plus we’re exposing our kids to teams from Winnipeg,” he said. “I think, in that perspective, it’s very much healthier.”
Simpson added OFSAA was alerted of the move and received its blessing, too.
NorWOSSA football had been in the region for well over 50 years, noted Simpson, with five teams competing for the championship at one time. But after Red Lake and Lakeside (Kenora) bowed out, the league has been playing with three teams for the last 20 years.
The Kenora Broncos beat the Muskies 20-18 in the last NorWOSSA title game here Nov. 4 to capture the Pete Fair Memorial trophy, which will be retired in Kenora.
The Muskie ‘B’ team will continue to play exhibition games against teams from Minnesota this season.