Francis cracks Team Alberta U18 roster

By Lethbridge Herald on June 14, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Raymond High Comets football player Bently Francis is getting his first taste at the  Team Alberta level next month.

Francis was named to the final 40-man roster for the U18 Team Alberta team that will compete in the Football Canada Cup in Edmonton from July 7-15.

The Football Canada Cup is a national championship for provincial U18 teams and has been contested since 1995.

“Yeah, it means a lot,” said Francis.

“It’s going to be fun.”

There were three rounds of camps that eventually whittled down the 467 players  down to the 40 players.

“I learned a lot and it was competitive ,” said Francis.

“(I) learned how to do my job better.”

Francis will be half back on the team.

“ (I will) just make sure I’m prepared physically and mentally for the game,  get my body in good shape and know my role,”  said Francis, on preparation.

Francis thinks communication is key to being on the same page and  teammates knowing their job.

He is looking forward to being on the big stage and competing against the provinces in hopes of winning a championship.

“He, you know, competed really hard throughout the process and continually got better,” said Team Alberta coach Kevin Park.

“I think he can play multiple positions. So obviously we’re looking forward to leaning on him to be a productive member of the team.”

Park noticed Francis’ athleticism throughout the camp.

“And you know when we started to introduce the systems and stuff like that, he picked it up fairly quickly.(A) very coachable young man and just continually improved. But obviously he’s got the ability to play multiple positions and we’re excited about that,” said Park.

“Yeah I think that’s a good accomplishment for Bently,” said Comets head coach Connor Ralph.

“It’s a good program and he’s made it one of his goals and we didn’t have a ton of guys try out from Raymond. I think there could have been a few more that made it if  they would have tried out. But it’s definitely an accomplishment for him and I think he’ll represent our program well.”

Francis will be joined by fellow southern Albertan Ira Hozack, who is from Medicine Hat, as the only players south of Calgary to make the team.

 Alberta has been to every Football Canada Cup,  winning six  National Championships

Alberta has not won  the Cup since 2007.