Mentorship, leadership, development and unity were some of the major takeaways from the 3rd annual High School Blue and Gold Showcase, presented by Princess Auto, and organized by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and President and CEO Wade Miller.

Over 240 of the top Grade 9-11 high school football players – representing 39 different programs in the province – came together to showcase their talent in front of a number of U SPORTS programs, while gaining a variety of new skills along the way.

Players invited to the showcase attended eight practices over two weeks, before competing in a game at Princess Auto Stadium (one each for the U16 and U18 age groups). There is no charge to players for this annual program, which reduces financial barriers to ensure the province’s top talent is in attendance.

The value of the showcase was evident to all involved, from coaches, to players, to those scouting the next wave of university and junior football talent.

“I love that you guys are out here getting better. That’s the best thing. With Wade and the Bombers and what they do, nobody else in the country gets a game like this, to come and play football and get better,” emphasized Guelph Gryphons head coach Mark Surya following the U18 game.

“To get better at football, you have to play football. I’m excited about the talent, I’m excited about what you guys are going to do in the future.”

“We want to build that community. We’re all playing for the province of Manitoba. This is a great step towards that,” added Nathan Leitao, head coach and quarterbacks coach for U16’s Team Gold.

“I think the unity is a great step in getting the best 50 guys in the province together on the same team. When we have that, we can keep moving forward and keep building these programs.”

Familiar faces show out

On the field, some familiar faces showed out in a big way.

In the U16 game, Vincent Massey Trojans quarterback Alex Britton found Steinbach Sabres receiver Ryan Martin for a 55-yard major on a seam route, blowing a 7-1 Team Gold lead wide open with 1:20 to go in the first half.

Afterwards, Team Gold’s defence stepped up, recording three second half sacks, while Ethan Lalonde of Dakota snagged a second quarter interception in a 20-1 win.

Britton participated in the showcase last year and represented Manitoba at the U16 Western Regional Challenge. He was hungry for a W after falling short in 2024.

“It was a really great experience last year, meeting new people, meeting new coaches. I wanted to redeem myself and get on the winning team this year and do it all again,” he said.

“Getting to compete against all the best players in Manitoba, it’s a great opportunity to showcase your skills. A lot of people come to watch. It’s a big game.”

In the U18 game, Dakota pivot Khaleel Hosein, also a veteran of last year’s event, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 28-17 Team Gold win.

“It gives everyone that extra exposure. Playing in the stadium, it’s always so much fun. It’s a different vibe. It’s professional. It’s really important for kids to get that opportunity to shine,” he said on his decision to play in the showcase.

“It’s a lot of fun getting together with everyone, making new friends and new teammates.”

Team Gold opened the scoring on the first drive of the game and never trailed from there.

Hosein connected with Lancers teammate Hudson Cvetkovic for 30 yards on a contested grab near the sideline, and the charismatic quarterback added 18 rushing yards to set up Gold at the two-yard line. Vincent Massey Trojans running back McCarlo Shaw punched it in from there.

Afterwards, both teams flexed their muscles on defence.

Team Blue got on the board with 1:38 to go in the first half, thanks to the play of their D. Elmwood’s Hayden Carriere – a former WHSFL Rookie of the Year – punched in a quarterback keeper from three yards out, aided by an interception and return from West Kildonan defensive back Justin Forest. The convert was unsuccessful, as Team Gold went to the half up by one.

Turnovers continued to lead to points in the second half.

Tec Voc defensive back Zach Mah scooped up a third quarter interception that put Team Gold at the opposition’s 20-yard line. The ensuing drive was capped off by Grant Park’s do-it-all receiver Ben LaRose-Short, who punched in a quarterback sneak from the one.

Team Blue narrowed Gold’s lead to five with 9:42 to go following a field goal, set up by two large gains from Oak Park running back and receiver Adam Kilmister.

The big-play threat was incredible in the fourth quarter, hauling in three grabs for 115 yards, including an 80-yard score in the final minute, but it wasn’t enough to stop the hot hand of Hosein.

Following Team Blue’s field goal, Dakota’s gunslinger orchestrated two scoring drives 53 seconds apart to put the game on ice.

Hosein’s first major of the fourth came with 1:53 to go. He found Dakota teammate JJ Wahl for an 11-yard major in single coverage, on a drive that started thanks to a third down sack from Team Gold’s defence.

Another Lancer standout, Ryan North, was the man that forced the turnover.

A three-year varsity starter, back-to-back provincial champion and one of the province’s top pass rushers, North was “hungry” to make a big play for his side. He came up clutch at a key moment, as Team Blue had driven the ball past midfield, but couldn’t convert on third down.

“All game I’d been hungry. That’s what I do. I try to go out there and try to get a sack on every single pass play,” exclaimed North. “I go full out, 100 percent. It happened; I succeeded.”

Team Gold took advantage of great field position, with Hosein connecting with three different receivers on the scoring drive. Less than a minute later, he added a five-yard rushing touchdown to cap a great game.

“I love seeing my guys make plays,” added Hosein, who goes by “Big play KJ.”

“We went out there and we were ready to score. We hadn’t played since the first quarter. We wanted to go out there and make a statement.”