CANMORE – It was a tough end to the season for the Canmore Wolverines, who were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs against Taber’s W.R. Myers Rebels.
It is often said football is a game of inches, and for the local high school team, the once championship program is still recovering from difficulty faced after the COVID-19 pandemic, but inches are being gained.
“Looking at it from start to finish this season we improved,” said Spencer Rose, head coach of the Wolverines. “We managed to get a couple wins later in the season before, unfortunately, losing the last three.”
A rough season for the Wolverines – which ended with a 47-0 loss to the Rebels – may have been overshadowed by a dire referee situation that Football Alberta faces.
In an open letter to the football community, Football Alberta’s executive director Tim Enger stated the organization is on the verge of an officiating crisis, following eight high school and minor games being cancelled this season due to a lack of referees.
Enger said at least three incidents resulted in refs being assaulted by coaches, parents and fans at the end of games, plus numerous threats directed at officials.
“Regardless of how justified you or I may feel in the moment there is absolutely no excuse for verbal or physical threats directed at another human being. And, it’s hurting us as a sport,” Enger said in the statement.
“Currently, we are stretched to the limit in terms of available referees ... there may come a time when a game your son or daughter is involved in will be unable to be played due to lack of refs and now you know why.”
As Football Alberta hosts games across the province today in partnership with @asaaprovs, we would like our football community to take a moment to read this. Our refs too are a part of this football family/community!
— Football Alberta (@FootballAlberta) November 11, 2023
🏈🏈#football #footballalberta #respectofficials #referee pic.twitter.com/5uN8jBktBa
This season the Wolverines cancelled one game and changed playing times and dates for another due to a lack of referees available in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association.
“It was a struggle for the province to find refs,” said Rose. “We managed to have more success with that toward the back half of the season. We had a reffing clinic in October and are targeting to have another in the spring. We are looking to have more local guys available in the referee pools, something that we didn’t have available to us this year as we had in the past. It just made it a little bit more difficult for us.”
When asked about a player who made a huge impact on the team this year, Rose immediately said, “Hugo Notman, he played his heart out every game and really set the tone a lot of the time for the team.”
The standout Wolverine served as part of the team’s leadership group and said he is thankful for the support from his teammates and coaches this season.
“I appreciate the coaches that volunteer their time to support this team,” said Notman. “They travel with us and are always by our side. I’m appreciative of the team for all their heart and effort this year. I met so many guys I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to meet. We are like a family.”
Notman played middle linebacker, but he also was versatile for the team, playing as tight end and full back, as well. The Grade 12 athlete has played for the Wolverines since Grade 10 and hopes to make Halifax’s Dalhousie Tigers’ roster next year.
“The greatest lesson I took from the season this year is how to go into the world with more integrity,” said Notman.
The Wolverines finished the season 2-6 placing them sixth out of ten teams in the Tier IV division.
Rose said the conversation needs to begin with players and coaches about goals and marks the team wants to hit next season.
“[We will be] having these conversations and being clear about what we want to accomplish,” said Rose. “We will look at next year and how we can improve and how we can go out there and have fun, as well.”
