Football Canada adds ten to U19 national team

Players to face U.S. in Orlando on Jan. 28

Photo credit: USA Football 

Football Canada has added ten players to its under-19 national team roster in preparation for the inaugural North American Championship against U.S.A. Football on January 28, 2017 in Orlando, Florida.

“These ten players add to our under-19 national team’s depth and experience as we prepare to take on a star-studded U.S. U19 national team roster in Orlando with alumni such as Jameis Winston [QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers], Tyrann Mathieu [DB, Arizona Cardinals] and Todd Gurley [RB, LA Rams],” said incoming head coach Steve Sumarah, who will lead Canada’s U19 national team alongside the rest of the Junior National Team coaching staff in preparation for the 2018 IFAF U19 World Championship. “Three of these players (Charles-Émile Bouchard, Nicolas Cross and Mathew Goodall) helped Canada capture gold at the world championship this past summer in China which is a huge asset to our program moving forward.”

Canada is planning to use the annual series of games against USA Football to continue to grow its national team program as they prepare to defend their 2016 IFAF U19 World Championship gold medal in 2018.

“Over the next two years, we plan on keeping a core group of players together and involved in the national team program. This is more than a one-and-done type of game in Orlando, it’s a multi-year event which will be used as a stepping stone to help identify and help prepare Canada’s junior national team for the world championships and includes an off-season strength and conditioning program as well.”

The latest additions join the 40-player all-star team chosen from this past July’s Football Canada Cup in Winnipeg on Canada’s under-19 national team.

Marco Iadeluca, head coach of Quebec’s 2016 Canada Cup gold medal winning entry will serve the same role with Canada’s under-18 national team in Orlando. Canada’s initial U18 roster was recently announced while the U18 coaching staff will be unveiled in the weeks to follow along with additional information about the event itself.

The U.S. and Canada’s national teams began playing an annual series of games in 2014. This upcoming January will mark the first time that the winter series of games between the two North American national teams is held outside of the International Bowl series. The International Bowl was established in 2010 as a USA versus the World game, played around NCAA national signing day.

 Players invited to Canada’s U19 National Team for 2017 North American Championship

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