Colm Phillips accepts his Bantam Most Valuable Offensive Player from Bantam Coach Joey Hemsworth. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Finished for the year

River Riders wrap up another season with year-end awards

Nov 9, 2023 | 11:48 AM

Another year of minor football in Prince Albert is in the books.

On Wednesday, Prince Albert Minor Football and its peewee and Bantam River Riders held a season windup at Carlton High School to celebrate a successful season with their year-end awards.

The Bantam River Riders picked up where they left off in 2022, posting another winning record and a semi-final playoff berth. Although not the championship season they had a year ago, president of PA Minor Football Taras Kachkowski said that the season is still one to celebrate.

“The Bantams continued their success – 4-2 (win-loss record) this season and into the semi-finals which is a very respectable record. It’s not the undefeated season they had last year but it’s still very good and something to build on.”

The Bantam River Riders ended last season on top of the Kinsmen Football League (KFL), squeaking past the Saskatoon Raiders 7-6 to claim the program’s first championship since its inauguration in 2008.

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Additionally, Kachkowski is the head coach of P.A.’s peewee program. He said despite the slow start to the season, the team ended things on a high note.

“I’m absolutely happy with how our peewee season turned out. We started very humbly – got our butts kicked a couple of times in some pretty big blowout losses, but we put it all together for our last game of the year and they say you’re supposed to save the best for last and it was. The kids had a really good back-and-forth battle with Clavet and finally notched the first win of the season in a game that came down to the last play. It was awesome – a great way to end the year.”

The peewee’s played in the 9 vs 10 consolation bowl game and came away with a 42-39 victory.

Kachkowski added the organization is taking a few months off for the winter before returning to the gridiron in March or April for indoor flag football for Grades 4-5. Registration for all spring and fall 2024 programs will open in mid-January.

See below a list of the award winners from the 2023 River Riders season for both the peewee’s and bantam’s:

Offence Awards – peewee

Most Valuable Offensive Player – Erik Wagner

Matthew Gendron Memorial Top Offensive Lineman – Dayton Mckenzie

Top Running Back – Josiah Brock

Top Receiver – Carson Krasilowez

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Jacob Wiens

Most Improved Offensive Player – Broderick Linn

PHD Award (Offence) – Tenley Cousins

Defence Awards – peewee

Most Valuable Defensive Player – Holden Johnson

Top Defensive Lineman – Jake Schlamp

Top Linebacker – Joel Sinclair

Top Defensive Back – Jensen Litwin

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Nixon See

Most Improved Defensive Player – Trent Beatty

PHD Award (Defence) – Laura Wilson

Offence Awards – Bantam

Most Valuable Offensive Player – Colm Phillips

Top Offensive Lineman – Madden Markling

Top Running Back – Caleb Borowsky

Top Receiver – Layne Vandale

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Chase Brown

Most Improved Offensive Player – Brady Riddoch

Defence Awards – Bantam

Most Valuable Defensive Player – Bladen Dogniez

Top Defensive Lineman – Lincoln McGaghey and Casey Wilson

Top Linebacker – Jeremy LaHaye

Top Defensive Back – Robby Everest

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Brandon Arabejo

Most Improved Defensive Player – Davon Kasyon

Other Awards

Max Clunie Memorial Award (Pee Wee leadership) – Holden Johnson

Rod Elliott Bantam Team Leadership Award – Nash Noble

Most Valuable PeeWee Special Teams Player – Joel Sinclair

Bantam Heart of the Beast Award – Keaton Fyrk

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com