Exciting developments are on the horizon for young football enthusiasts in the Interlake region. The Interlake Thunder, known for their commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a love for the game, have announced plans to expand their program. With aspirations to introduce a Junior Varsity team in 2025, this initiative promises to create new pathways for aspiring athletes aged 14 and 15.
On Nov. 8, Thunder V.P. of Football Operations Kris Johnston sent out a news release stating their intentions and describing the potential of having a Junior Varsity team.
According to Johnston, the Thunder hope to have a team of 18-24 players, mostly 14-year-olds with some 15-year-olds, that will compete in the Manitoba Minor Football Association’s Bantam Division starting next summer.
“Due to the fantastic growth of our Thunder Varsity and Peewee program in the past two years, our club has decided we will work towards developing a Junior Varsity (Bantam) team in 2025,” said Johnston off the top of the news release.
Part of the Thunder’s intentions with this new team is to have a level where players age 14 and 15 can develop before stepping into the varsity level.
The first step for prospective players is to register for the Varsity Thunder’s spring camp in April, which takes place in May/June and includes all Thunder players ages 14 to 17.
At spring camp, Varsity Thunder coaches organize the activities to accommodate players of different ages and sizes, ensuring a safe and competitive environment for all athletes.
Potential junior varsity coaches will also attend to evaluate their prospective players and see how the varsity program runs its systems and practices.
Once both the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams have been assembled, they will begin practicing separately with the intention of having one joint practice a week once their seasons get underway in August.
“The focus for the Junior Varsity (Bantam) team will be to provide an environment for our younger and less experienced varsity athletes with a place to grow and develop their football skills,” said Johnston.
The Thunder plan to release more details on their expansion to a Junior Varsity team in the coming months.
They will likely be holding a meeting sometime in the winter/spring for the prospective athletes/families eligible for the team.
