By: Michael Sanders
Last season the Sudbury Gladiators turned heads with their unexpected Ontario Football Conference championship appearance; this year, they hope to capitalize on that momentum and leave that same game with a trophy.
The program has already benefitted from last year’s progress; there are more coaches, an expanded executive board and increased player registrations.
It had been a tumultuous journey for the Gladiators organization. This year will be their tenth season as a part of the OFC but the organization was almost forced to fold last season due to poor player turnout.
“A week prior to the season opener I had to put it to the kids. It becomes a safety issue at only twenty-five players, so I asked them to go out and recruit. Our roster quickly shot up to forty-two,” said head coach Aaron Rehel.
The team went on to a 4-4 record, enough to squeak into the playoffs and from there it was a vigorous push into the finals. Their success has recently been acknowledged with a nomination for Team of the Year by the House of Kin Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Awards and Dinner.
This off-season has seen some team changes within the OFC. The advent of a new league, the Ontario Premier Football League, enticed some southern Ontario teams away from the OFC resulting in a redistribution of the remaining teams. As a result, the OFC’s two divisions have become more geographically polarized.
That regional shift will be augmented when the northerly Ramsey division welcomes a new contender: the Sault Sabercats are migrating from the Ontario Varsity Football League.
“The power has really shifted to the North in the OFC,” said Rehel. “The Sault has a really developed football culture and always competed strongly in the OVFL.”
The previous incarnation of the Gladiators, the Sudbury Northerners, competed in the OFVL. Rehel was a player at the time. “There was always a rivalry between us and the Sault (Sabercats),” he said.
That familiarity could prove indispensable. Because the Sault is a new entry in the OFC there isn’t any game-tape available to pore over. But Rehel isn’t worried, his coaching staff boasts an impressive amount of experience.
Neil Petrin is the Galdiator’s associate head coach and offensive co-ordinator.
“He studies tape, loves it, he just dissects it,” said Rehel. Petrin will have some time to catch up on the Sabercats’ strategy before the Gladiators travel to Sault Ste. Marie for a Week 4 matchup.
The Gladiator’s Ramsey division also includes The Nippissing Wild and Huronia Stallions, based in the Barrie area.
“I’m excited to play against all the northern rivals,” Petrin said.
For those regional contests, Rehel and Petrin will be supported by some formidable talent on the sidelines. “I have a wealth of knowledge in my positional coaches,” said Rehel.
The Varsity Gladiators coaching staff includes, among others: Owynn Lahnalampi, a defensive lineman that started with the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues; Kyle Rasmussen, another defensive lineman who started with the Michigan State Spartans; and returning coach Erick Lessard, a five-year veteran of Queen’s University’s offensive line.
The Sudbury Gladiators organization also fields a team at the Junior Varsity level. This year, long-time coach James McKnight has been tapped to head the team. Over the years, McKnight has been on the coaching staffs of several high school teams as well as the Junior Gladiators. This is his first head coaching position.
“Once it was officially offered to me I jumped at the chance. This is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” said McKnight.
Right now, McKnight helms a staff of five. Last year the Junior Gladiators finished with a record of 2-6 but the Varsity Gladiators success has resulted in improved turnout on the junior side as well.
“I am very positive. We’ve got a big group this year with a good blend of returners and new blood. I think we’ll be very strong in the trenches and we’ll be tough and gritty.”
When questioned on his expectations for the season, McKnight said, “let’s start with winning game one and we’ll go from there.”
Last season’s Varsity success was abetted by a diligent back office. But like the squad itself, the Gladiators Executive Board faced a personnel shortage. Its few members had to scramble to organize the surprise playoff run.
This year, Brian Flesher joins a more robust board as President after an absence from the organization.
“I was glad to get re-involved. There’s a good core group working in the background, with varied experience. There’s a lot of hard work that people don’t see that allows the coaches and their staff to focus on the players’ development and field competitive teams,” Flesher said.
Although Flesher prefers that his board remains “under the radar” he can’t help but set high hopes for the Gladiators.
“No pressure on our coaches but a championship would be nice. At either level, but both would be better.”
That optimism is pervasive.
“We have a really good team this year,” said Petrin.
The Junior and Varsity Gladiators kicked off their seasons with a double header at the James Jerome Sports Complex on May 27. The Junior Gladiators earned a hard-fought win by against the Toronto Jr. Argos by a score of 27-21.
The Varsity Gladiators crushed the Nipissing Wild by a count of 40-7.
