“It’s really cool to have my dad
as my coach. We have a great
relationship. I understand it can be
difficult for some people, but I love
having my dad as my coach. Frankly,
he’s the most qualified.”
So with his dad as head coach,
Kaneski started his football career as
a quarterback. However, when you’re
as big and strong as Matt, you will
find your way to the offensive line
and he was quickly moved to a more,
Matt Kaneski (left) of the St. Paul’s Crusaders
shall we say, appropriate position.
“I started out on the line as a guard
in Atom and then I moved to tackle,”
he said. “Then, I started moving
back inside, first to guard and now,
in high school, I’m mostly a centre,
but this year, I played everywhere
along the line. I’m like most players.
I just want to play. I have the height
to be a centre. You need to be a little
top be a tackle or guard, but I’ll play
those positions if the coaches need
me to play there.
“I’ll go wherever the coaches tell
me to go just so I can be out on the
field. People who know me know
that I just love to play.”
Last year, Kaneski’s Crusaders
lost the Triple A Potter Division’s
championship game 17-16 to Oak
Park. For a guy like Kaneski who has
won two championships as a Peewee
and one as a Double A player in
Grade 9 and one more as a Triple A
player in Grade 10, losing wasn’t an
easy pill to swallow.
However, he won’t call this year’s
Matt Kaneski (50)
plans “unfinished business.” It’s
simply a new season and the
Crusaders, a team that was 9-1 last
season, should be a favourite to win
it all next fall.
“Everyone’s really excited about
this year,” he said. “We have a lot of
returning players – three O-linemen,
two starting slotbacks and entire
backfield. We’ll have two great
quarterbacks in Riley Naujoks and
Tommy Semchyshyn.
“And make no mistake, the game
last fall will be on my mind all
season. It will definitely motivate
me.” l
Game On Photographer James Carey Lauder has 35 years of photography experience.
He’s a member of the Professional Photographers of Canada and Manitoba
and is accredited in Sports Photography. He is currently in his 10th year as
Photography Instructor at Tec Voc High School.
sportslife / 27