FCC2017 PREVIEW: Quebec
While the defending champions want to repeat at the 2017 Football Canada Cup, there are other things the team would like to accomplish in Wolfville.
“Every year we show up and have the same goal,” commented Team Quebec Head Coach Marco Iadeluca. “We want to win and we want the kids to have a great time doing it and have a great experience meeting different kids that they don’t really know that come from all parts of our province.”
“But we want to go out there and win. That’s our goal every single year.”
While Quebec’s composition might be different, their playing style at this year’s tournament will familiar.
“We try to be aggressive on all three sides of the ball – offence, defence and special teams,” described Iadeluca. “We try to keep people on their heels.”
Lukas Boulanger will lead the offence in executing the team’s game plan. He will have several offensive weapons at his dispense including running back Kalenga Muganda and receiver Jashia Lewis-Pennicooke. Anchoring the offensive line are Matthew Kabolambi Bergeron, Alexis Lévesque-Gallant and John Zambito.
Defensively, linemen Félix-Antoine Desjardins and Myles Lussier highlight the unit. Leading the secondary is Jordan Heppell.
On special teams, returning kicker Antoine Couture gives Quebec a great advantage in the tournament.
“Our kicker is back from last year.,” added Iadeluca. “He was a kid who was on Team Canada.”
“He has a lot of experience and he’s been there.”
Quebec begins their defence of the gold medal when they open the tournament against British Columbia on Saturday July 8th at 7:30pm AT.
Iadeluca knows first hand what it’s like for a team such as British Columbia to return back to the national championship. In 2006, Quebec made it’s return to the Football Canada Cup in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As Offensive Coordinator, Iadeluca helped the team win gold in its first year.
“I think it’s really good for everyone that British Columbia is back in the tournament,” Iadeluca said of their opponent. “It’s awesome to get to see kids from every province so we’re really excited about that.”
“As far as having to play them first. we tell the kids every year, if you want to win we’ve got to beat the best regardless of who we play in the first, second and third round. We got to line up and play whoever is on the other side. We try to focus on what we have to do and if we feel if we can take care of our own business, it really doesn’t matter who is on the other side.”
Knowing that each game will be a challenge in their quest to repeat as champions, Iadeluca reflects on how the tournament has evolved as an elite event that showcases the best of the best from across the nation.
“Teams are getting more and more competitive and it’s really fun for our kids to measure their skills set against kids from other provinces,” he expressed. “I think everyone is getting better every single year and it’s amazing for football in Canada.”
TEAM QUEBEC
2016 RESULT: defeated Saskatchewan 25-8 to win gold medal
HEAD COACH: Marco Iadelcua (2nd year, was also Offensive Coordinator in 2006)
NUMBER OF RETURNING PLAYERS: N/A
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
| Name | Pos | High School/Club |
| Antoine Couture | K | Notre Dame |
| Félix-Antoine Desjardins | DL | Academie Les Estacades |
| Jordan Heppell | DL | Magdeleine |
| Matthew Kabolambi Bergeron | OL | Victoriaville |
| Alexis Lévesque-Gallant | OL | St.Leonard |
| Jashia Lewis-Pennicooke | REC | Sun Youth |
| Myles Lussier | DL | Notre Dame |
| Lukas Boulanger | QB | Triolet |
| John Zambito | OL | Kent |
| Kalenga Muganda | RB | Seminaire de Saint-Francois |
