Football brothers furthering careers in the game
By Lethbridge Herald on May 30, 2023.
Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD
Gage, Rylen and Ryder Blasco are all taking unique paths in their post-secondary football careerrs.
.By Justin Seward
Lethbridge Herald
Chinook Coyotes alumnus Rylen Blasco and his brothers Ryder and Gage are taking their passion for football and going on developmental paths in the sport.
While Rylen didn’t get to play in his graduating year in 2021 due to COVID, he decided to continue his football aspirations by heading east to Quebec to play for two years for Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars of Division I in the CEGEP RSEQ college league in hopes of getting scholarships.
“That’s one of the reasons I felt like I could’ve went to university right away and played university football from there but I decided not to, just because I felt I kind of got ripped off in my senior year, ” said Rylen.
“I felt like I had more to offer. And I did go and I got a lot more scholarships after my years there (in Quebec), got way more offers, (and) got some from in the States too. But Calgary is what I ultimately decided on.”
He had been in contact with the University of Calgary Dinos after high school and due to not having a senior season, the program wanted Rylen to develop more.
“I had more interest from other universities,” said Rylen.
“But Calgary was kind of more leaning like oh we want you to develop for bit just because you haven’t had a senior season, things like that, and I went out to Quebec,” said Rylen.
“One of my goals was to get (a) scholarship from Calgary and I did that thankfully and blessed to do that.”
He felt lucky to go to Quebec first before heading to Calgary.
“Because there is guys that end up coming to Calgary or other universities, and they’re told like you’re going to red shirt your first year, you might not play, like you’re more of a development guy,” he said.
“But I think Quebec’s really big in being able to experience some higher level football before getting to university and I think it’ll help me out with competing right off the bat.”
Rylen officially signed the dotted line on Saturday at his old high school to become a member of the University of Calgary Dinos next season.
“Great,” said Rylen on the signing.
“It’s a long time in the making. A big goal for a long time.”
Rylen thinks U of C is a “crazy, crazy good program.”
“(They) had a Vanier (Cup) just a couple of years ago now— a national championship, — (and) close to home, it’s a great program and more than just football,” said Rylen.
“(And)get the family out watching and stuff and kind of represent the back yard. Yeah do what I can to keep sports as good as possible in Alberta. Yeah, Calgary felt like home.”
Twin brothers Ryder and Gage will graduate from Chinook this year and then head out to St. Clair College in Ontario and play for the Saints, who are affiliated with the school, of the Canadian Junior Football League beginning this fall.
“Yeah, with this route, you know like him, I’d get some more football,” said Gage.
“Like get to develop a little more and then I’m taking engineering in university or at least that’s my plan. So to come into it (and) just to be a little bit more mature and a little older and have some more experience in life.”
Gage decided to attend St. Clair because of the program and being on one of the top teams in Ontario.
“Because if either of us went straight to university, like it’s really rare for a player to come to university right out of high school and play (and) starting their first year,” said Gage.
“So with this, we can go play football, actually see the field for a year or two, and then when we go to university, we’ll be coming in with that opportunity to start.”
Gage wants to come back west to play university football after playing with the Saints.
For Ryder to see Rylen go through the same process and see where he is now, it’s nice to know that routes like that do work.
“He did play CEGEP, which is a tad different than junior,” said Ryder.
“Because in Quebec they only go to Grade 11 … But CEGEP and Junior both don’t use eligibility. So they’re pretty similar and you can still play against some pretty good competition. So it’s a good place to develop and be able to gain some more offers and then be able to transfer to a bigger, better school and (to) further degree.”
Ryder will enrol in business in hopes of taking over the family’s tire shop and also wants to transfer to the Dinos.
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