By Dan Plouffe
It’s by no means an easy league to succeed in, but it’s become almost an expectation that the Myers Riders and Cumberland Panthers names will emerge near the top of the Ontario Varsity Football League standings at the Bantam, Junior Varsity, and Varsity levels each summer.
The city’s west and east end teams are geared up for another run at the provincial prize this month, and although they’re rivals on the gridiron, both clubs list off a couple mutual points that are key to their success.
It starts with a strong fall league – the National Capital Amateur Football Association – where players can develop their skills, and then a spirit of cooperation amongst the dozen clubs when it comes time to unite under the Riders or Panthers brands.
“In my opinion, we have the best minor league system in Canada,” says Ralph Siciliano, the coach of the Ottawa squad that earned the best record in OVFL this regular season, the 8-1 Bantam Riders.
“There’s coaches from all the clubs – the Giants, the Raiders, the Bengals, the Generals, and the Panthers, so that brings the kids to the varsity program,” highlights Cumberland executive member François deRepentigny, who had 200+ players show up to try out for their three squads. “All the clubs are represented.”
The mix of coaches from different clubs working together on a staff is crucial, Siciliano agrees.
“What I want to make sure – and I also use it as a recruiting tool – I don’t just want my guys from the Myers system in the fall,” he explains. “I get coaches from different clubs so they bring their kids. Yes we wear the Myers Riders logo, but we’re basically Ottawa West. And we make sure the kids who deserve to play are the ones who play.”
It’s been a winning formula – one that has seen Siciliano’s Riders squads appear in the championship game in three consecutive years.
“Our record speaks for itself,” Siciliano adds. “These kids work so hard. Every week we’re getting better and better and better. That’s all you want as a head football coach.”
Although if he could have one additional wish?
“We’re really excited about our chances to win the championship this year,” notes the coach of the group that lost only in Week 1, on the road to the defending champions from Cambridge. “I’ve got basically the same coaching staff over the last four years, and we’re very hungry.”
All six local teams were on track to qualify for the postseason, with the Riders sitting at 6-3 (varsity) and 7-3 (JV), and all three Panthers teams carrying 7-3 records.