Tag: Steelers

Sault Steelers Withdraws from NFC 2017 Season

Written by Brian Kelly of the Sault Star – Please share the original story to ensure coverage of NFC Football and help the reporters and local papers.

The NFC executive are fully committed to making the league and the season work. More news on the repercussions and solutions to follow.

http://www.saultstar.com/2017/05/13/steelers-season-sacked

Sault Steelers will spend the 2017 season on the sidelines because the Northern Football Conference team doesn’t have enough players to compete.

NFC president, and former team coach, Barry Rushon was contacted Thursday night and told “we’d be dropping out this year,” head coach Frank Reid told The Sault Star.

It’s better to default early than during the season, which just causes a whole bunch of confusion and problems for the league,” he said. “It’s better to do it now than it is to wait.”

The team’s season was scheduled to start with a home game against North Bay on May 27.

Only about 15 players committed to playing for the semi-professional team this summer. Reid wanted close to 30.

We just didn’t get (the numbers),” said Reid.

A light bench was also a common problem for road games during the 2016 campaign. Reid’s concerned too few players increases the likelihood of injuries, compounding the limited roster.

He and his coaching staff are “not really sure” why enough players couldn’t be recruited given possible talent available from several sources including high school and university teams and Sault Sabercats.

There just doesn’t seem to be any interest out there right now,” said the team’s former defensive co-ordinator who began his current role in 2016. “It’s been very difficult and frustrating. to be honest with you.”

Reid suggests some younger players may be intimidated playing in a league that features some former Canadian Football League talent.

Maybe a lot of people are under the misconception that they can’t play at that level,” he said. “I think they can.”

Reid noted the accomplishments of Sault products Alex Morrison and Jordan Hoover, recently drafted by Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.

He says young Sault players are “very high skilled (and) well coached” at city high schools.

These kids (Morrison, Hoover) are getting the recognition,” said Reid. “I’m not worried about the skills.”

The team has about six months to drum up enough player interest to return to the NFC in 2018. Team meetings begin in November.

If there’s interest then somebody has to start coming forward,” said Reid. “It’s almost an immediate thing. People have to decide whether they want to play football.”

The Steelers can opt to stay on hiatus for more than a year, if they pay the required fee to the league.

Taking this hiatus might be something that we can regroup and see what happens next year,” said Reid. “In saying that, next year starts very soon.”

He is keen to have the Steelers back on the field so there’s another option for football players from the city.

We really want to grow, and continue these opportunities, for kids in Sault Ste. Marie and players in Sault Ste. Marie,” he said. “There is some frustration there, but I mean there’s not a lot you can do. You can’t beg people to come out. We want to see it survive.”

The Steelers won a Canadian championship in 1972. League titles followed in 1975, 1976 and 1980. The team disappeared in 1987 before returning in 1996 as Soo Storm. The Steelers name returned in 2003.

Team members in the league’s hall of fame include Steve Edwards and Robin Wood.

Eight teams will compete in the NFC this summer – Ottawa Invaders, GTA All Stars, Sudbury Spartans, Toronto Raiders, Steel City Patriots, Oakville Longhorns, Tri-City Outlaws and North Bay Bulldogs.

btkelly@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @Saultreporter

Steelers Football Rivals in 2017 include Sudbury and North Bay

By Randy Russon
Original Article: http://www.saultthisweek.com/2017/02/21/steeler-football-rivals-in-2017-include-sudbury-north-bay

Summer football season in Sault Ste. Marie may seem like a few months off.

And it is.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a look ahead at it — and take one’s mind off the snow for just a bit.

Not that snow — or winter — can be classified in a negative category.

After all, if you live in Sault Ste. Marie — or Sudbury or North Bay for that matter — you should learn to live with snow and winter.

But ah yes, let’s talk a bit about summer football.

That is, preparations are ongoing for the 2017 Northern Football Conference season for the Sault Steelers.

Steeler management recently attended the NFC’s Annual General Meeting. And the AGM led to a still-tentative, regular-season schedule as well as some notable league news.

As of now, the regular season is slated to open on Saturday, May 27 when the Steelers would play host to the North Bay Bulldogs.

The rest of the Steelers home schedule includes games against the Sarnia Imperials on June 17, the Tri-City Outlaws on July 8 and the Sudbury Spartans on July 15.

North Bay is returning to the NFC after a six-year absence and is one of two teams returning to the league, the Toronto Phantom Raiders being the other.

The NFC plan for the 2017 season includes 10 teams and two divisions.

The West Division will include the Sault, North Bay, Sudbury, Sarnia and Tri City. The East Division is shaping up as the aforementioned Phantom Raiders, Ottawa Invaders, GTA All Stars, Oakville Longhorns and Hamilton Steel City Patriots.

In other news from the AGM, Barry Rushon, a long-time figure in Sault Ste. Marie football circles, will return as league president. And Paul Caldbick — like Rushon, a former Steelers championship coach — will serve as league treasurer while returning as general manager of the Sault squad.

And the Steelers are planning to mark the 10th anniversary of the team’s 2007 national championship this season with a party-style game.