ST. PAUL – It was another outstanding year for St. Paul Football. Players, coaches, and supporters, gathered at the St. Paul Regional High School on Dec. 3 to celebrate the club’s achievements at the club’s 41st awards night.
This year, the St. Paul Lions sought to win the 3A provincial championship at the Alberta Bowl after winning the provincial Tier IV provincial title in2023. But, the Lions faced a powerful foe in the Holy Rosary Raiders – the reigning provincial champions in the 3A category.
The Raiders belong to the same league as the Lions in the Wheatland Football League (WFL), where they remained undefeated leading up to the 2024 WFL championship.
Last year, the Lions bested the Raiders in the league championship, however, the Raiders took the crown this year, avenging their loss from 2023.
The Lions and the Raiders met again during the North Championship to fight for a ticket to the 3A provincial finals. The Raiders won there too – and went on to win the provincial title after defeating the Cochrane Cobras.
The Lions only lost three time this season, all against the Raiders.
But through it all, Lions Head Coach Mark Tichkowsky told the crowd that the Lions have shown they have hearts of champions, “rallying together as a unit and refusing to be deterred by setbacks.”
Thanking the graduating Grade 12 players, Tichkowsky said they had a great run – winning silver in a very close 2022 provincial game, then gold at the 2023 Tier IV provincials. This helped cement the Lions’ legacy as a powerhouse football team not only in the WFL, but across Alberta.
“As we look ahead to the challenges of the next season, remember that the path to greatness is paved with hard work, resilience, and the unwavering support of your teammates, coaches, and devoted fans,” Tichkowsky said. “The future is bright and the fight ahead is well worth the effort.”
St. Paul Bengals
Tichkowsky also congratulated the Bengals on the bantam team’s third consecutive provincial championship in the 9-A-Side Tier I category.
“I think coach [Dave] McLellan said it best when he said, ‘It’s easy to coach great players’,” said Derek Zapisocki, head coach for the Bengals, while speaking at the awards night.
What made the players great, according to the coach, was how they remained resolute both in the body and in the mind, despite being faced with setbacks.
Zapisocki recalled the Bengals’ loss to Wainwright during the season opener. “[Wainwright] rose to the challenge,” and worked week after week to become a better team, said the head coach.
That extra challenge lit a fire for the Bengals, he said.
“They say you learn more from your losses than you do your wins, and that butt whooping we took from Wainwright might have been the best thing for us at the time.”
The toughness the team developed was shown again when Grand Prairie took the first touchdown during the provincial championship game. Often, the momentum sways to the team that is first to score a touchdown.
But, “It didn’t even phase [the Bengals],” recalled Zapisocki. “They went to work, answering back by marching the ball down the field for a touchdown and went on to win another provincial championship.”
Lori-Anne Peters, president of the football club, told the crowd that the club may be exceptional, “But please know – this just doesn’t happen.”
Peters said the club’s success relies on the volunteer efforts of supporters, parents, and players.
“Your contribution helps us facilitate games, maintain up-to-date equipment such as helmets and pads, and ensure the continued operation of our exceptional field lighting for games,” she explained.
She also thanked not only the coaches who have invested countless hours to develop the players and the football program, but also the families of the coaches.
Coaching is not an easy task, she said. “Without coaches, we have no team.”
Lions awards
Most Valuable Player and Top Offensive Player - Joe Pilipchuk
Top Defensive Player - Cody Landiak and Joe Pilipchuk
Rookie of the Year Offence - Patrick Sesay
Rookie of the Year Defence - Zack Germain
Best Offensive Lineman and Best Defensive Lineman - Jacob Petruk
Most Improved Player - Cody Landiak and Roy Munoz
Leadership and Most Heart - Landon Peters
Most Contribution/Least Recognition - Ethan Noel
Bengals awards
Most Valuable Player - Derrick Wygle
Most Valuable Offensive Player - Derrick Wygle and Tyson Trefenfanko
Most Valuable Defensive Player - Brendan Kadutski and Remington Reynolds
Leadership - Colson Maheu
Claude Vachon Award For Most Contribution With Least Recognition - Junior Ndose and Kaden Gervais
Best Offensive Lineman - Blake Dolejsi
Best Defensive lineman - Vincent Chaulk
Rookie of the Year Grade 8/9 - Brendan Kadutski
Rookie of the Year Grade 7 - Hunter Pankiw
Randall Krys Award For Most Heart - Colson Maheu and Zane Boettcher
Yaremko Family Award for Most Improved Player - Easton Sheppard