For the past 25 seasons the Calgary Bantam Football Association (CBFA) has formed a Select team that annually travels to the United States on the US Thanksgiving weekend to play in a tournament under US rules (4 downs). Selections begin in the first weeks of the season when the team coaches identify to the league executive the top players on each of their teams, from approximately 650 players in the CBFA.
The executive evaluates these players all season, and invite only 80 players to attend a 2 day tryout camp in mid-November, were the players are worked out by position. The final 30 players are chosen as the CBFA Calgary Selects.
This season, Carter Johnson; a grade 8 student in Chestermere, made the cut and was named to the Selects. He is a product of the Chestermere Chiefs Atom and Pee Wee teams, now at 13 years old playing for the Cyclones for his second season. The young player still has one season remaining with the Cyclones as he played his first year in Bantam as an underage player.
Johnson played center on the offensive line for the Selects and is one of three first year players for this All-Star team which is typically made up of mostly second year 14 year old players. The team practiced for two weeks together prior to heading to the Belleville, Illinois (near St. Louis) for a 3 game tournament, the Pilgrim Bowl.
In addition to playing three games under American rules against two other All-Star teams, the Selects had a tour of Busch Stadium (home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team), the St. Louis Arch, they attended the Missouri State High School 5A Championship, and did some Black Friday shopping. They also practiced & watched game film, and were continually evaluated by their coaches, who were led by former Stampeder, Greg Peterson.
The opportunity for the young athlete and his Select teammates was astounding, getting to play with the best players in the Calgary area in an atmosphere the likes of a University program. Johnson thoroughly enjoyed the chance where he could eat, sleep and breathe football for a full week.
The club had 2 wins and a loss in this go round, and on 15 past trips to Belleville the Selects are 39-7-1 overall, not bad for a bunch of Canadian kids playing a US game under US rules!
The CBFA provides tackle football for kids aged 13 & 14 in the greater Calgary area with a total of 13 teams. Local Chestermere kids play with the Calgary Cyclones who are housed in northeast Calgary. This past season Chestermere was represented by seven players on the Cyclones team.
Johnson has future plans that include playing football through high school, setting his sights on looking at some University and Colleges where he can further his football career and work towards a degree.
“Being able to play with 29 other players who are as committed to the game as I am was a great experience. The comradery of the team will last for years, I can’t wait to do it again next season”, says Johnson.
