2019 FOOTBALL CANADA CUP PREVIEW – QUÉBEC

By Ameeta Vohra

Quebec has been the Football Canada Cup dynasty as up until last year’s tournament, the province won six of the last seven championships dating back to 2011 (Ontario won in 2014).  However, the team did take home bronze from last year’s event.

Coming in with a fresh new look, David Lessard takes over the head coaching reins from Marco Iadeluca.  Lessard moves up to the under-18 squad after leading the province’s under-16 team to gold at last year’s Eastern Challenge in Guelph, Ontario.

Another Muganda will be looking to put together a dynamic and explosive performance at the tournament.  Following in his brother Kalenga’s footsteps, REC Ighani Muganda will be player opposing offences have to find a solution for to stop.  He led RSEQ Juvenile Division 1’s Cure-Antione Labelle Wolves in receptions.

Returning from last year’s provincial team is Merton Theagene who was one of the top rushers this past fall with RSEQ Juvenile Division 1’s Notre-Dame Cactus.

Defensively, Mohamed Elshal will be counted on to make big but timely plays on the line of scrimmage.  Returning linebacker Jamyson Goudreau is expected to provide veteran leadership.

2018 RESULT: defeated Ontario 33-6 to take bronze medal in the tournament
HEAD COACH: David Lessard – first year in role, led Quebec to gold medal at 2018 Under-16 Eastern Challenge in Guelph, Ontario
2019 GAME DAY 1 – will meet sixth seeded Manitoba on July 7, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EST
NUMBER OF RETURNING PLAYERS: 2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: