Jasper is sending off two of its best football players to Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium this weekend to compete in the north versus south six-man all-star game.
Last month, two Jasper Glaciers players— Joe Merilovich and Sean Lanigan— were hand picked by their coach to try out for the all-star team and each made the cut.
“It was essentially 60 of the best football players in northern Alberta who tried out for 24 positions, and we both made it,” said Merilovich, who is 17 years old.
“I’m just really stoked—it’s going to be an awesome time."
Lanigan, 16, added that it felt great to be recognized by their coach.
“I’m pretty proud and a little surprised,” he said. “I only played four games this season because I broke my collarbone near the beginning, so it was cool to still get nominated despite not being able to play very much.”
For the game, Merilovich will be playing as a lineman while Lanigan will be defense.
“I had actually tried out for the receiver position, but I got cut from that,” Lanigan said. “But then I got called up for the defense position, so I was pretty excited to still be on the team.”
In order to prepare for the big game, the guys said they’ve done a little extra training, but nothing too extreme.
“It’s just a game and we’re going to have fun with it,” Merilovich said. “We’re pretty experienced so those little jitters that we used to get at the beginning of games are pretty much gone.”
Merilovich has been playing with the Glaciers for four years while Lanigan has been a part of the team for three years.
“I love sports. I’ve thrown the football around with my dad ever since I was little," Lanigan said. “I’ve just always been drawn to the game, but like Joe said, it’s always been something I’ve done for fun.”
During the all-star game, Jasper’s players will compete with the best players from more than a dozen teams from across the province. Making up the north squad are players from the west and central divisions, while the south squad is a roster of players from the east and south divisions.
The two say the most exciting part of the whole affair is the opportunity to play at the Commonwealth Stadium— home of the Edmonton Eskimos.
“It’s going to be so awesome,” Merilovich said. “It’s definitely going to make for some good Instagram shots.”
Although the two have been selected as northern Alberta’s cream of the crop as far as high school football goes, the guys said they have no plans to pursue the game in the future. Merilovich is finishing up high school this year and plans to attend university in the fall.
“I expect this to be my last football game,” Merilovich said. “It’s a little sad, but it’s going to be a good time. And because it’s my last game I know I’m going to give everything I’ve got on that field.”
While Lanigan still has another year left of high school, he said his real passion lies with basketball.
“I might still play football next year, but looking at a university level I’d like to focus on basketball,” Lanigan said.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
