Liam Puskas, other local teens, set for biggest football opportunity yet

THUNDER BAY – Like many younger brothers, Liam Puskas wants to follow in older brother Jake’s football footsteps.

Jake, who starred for the St. Ignatius Falcons during his high school days, is currently a member of the Queen’s Gael’s squad.

Liam Puskas is taking steps to join him in the university ranks.

The 16-year-old is off to Winnipeg this weekend alongside 38 other football hopefuls, including 25 from Thunder Bay, his goal to impress a bevy of scouts at this weekend’s Football Canada Cup, the country’s national unde-18 showcase.

“For me, I see it as an opportunity to get scouted. It’s basically the biggest opportunity in Canada to get scouted for people my age. All of the university coaches are there and it’s kind of the best opportunity to get seen.”

Jake Puskas played for Team Ontario two years ago.

Liam will be playing on Manitoba’s second team, which was essentially given to Northwestern Ontario to fill the roster, the host province getting two slots.

While not ruling out joining his brother in Kingston, Ont., Liam Puskas said he’s trying to keep his options open.
Wherever he lands, the opportunity to train for Football Canada Cup has improved his game since they first put on the pads in April.

“This gives us a chance to get together as a team and work with people we don’t always get the opportunity to play with,” he said.
Rolf Woffler is the man in charge of getting the players in shape and ready to compete.

It’s important, he added, because of Thunder Bay’s relative remoteness. While players in southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada are usually in proximity to universities, Lakehead University doesn’t offer varsity football and scouts are few and far between.

Players often have to rely on putting together recruitment videos and send them to coaches across the country, if they’re not fortunate enough to play for the school that makes the annual trek to the Northern Bowl.

“It gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents at that level. For us in Thunder Bay, since we’re such a small, out-of-the-way place, this is basically their only opportunity to showcase their talents on a national stage,” Woffler said.

Team Manitoba-Silver takes on Team Quebec on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. EDT at Investor’s Group Field, home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Their second game is scheduled for Tuesday and dependent on their Game 1 result.