A pair of rugby players got a whole lot more than they bargained for when they joined the Foothills Lions program.
Carmen Izyk and Brogan Mior have used the things they have learned from the Lions in becoming national champions with the Alberta Wolf Pack.
The Wolf Pack won the U18 Women’s Canadian Rugby Championship when it downed the Nova Scotia Keltic 43-10 Sunday at the Calgary Rugby Union.
“This is a really big deal — its good to represent our province and come out on top,” said Izyk, who started at winger for the Pack.
The Blackie-area resident credits joining the Lions program in helping getting her to the national level.
The Lions had an eye-popping nine players representing Alberta at the national tournament last week.
“Our program really gives you the opportunity to play at a higher level and to grow and develop,” said Izyk, who is entering her senior year at High River’s Highwood High School.
Mior is young enough to have played for the Alberta U16 squad, but opted for the older age group instead.
“I had the option to play U16, but I think the coaches felt I could help this team,” Mior said. “I really enjoyed it because I felt I can develop more as a player (on the older team).”
Mior joined the Wolf Pack after a stint with Team Canada U18, which beat the United States in Ottawa earlier this month.
She also said it is the Lions that got her to the stage where she is now a national champion.
“They are a huge deal — to have nine kids here is just insane,” said Mior, a Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Academy. “Our development has improved a lot over the past few years… Foothills is where I started.”
Alberta went undefeated in the tournament. Izyk, who had a try in the tourney, said while getting a gold medal around her neck was a thrill another highlight was the enthusiasm of Wolf Pack coach Tara Moffat.
“Tara got us pumped up for the games — a lot of us almost cried because she really wanted it for us,” Izyk said. “It made us go for it so much more.”
Moffat said the pair of Lions brought a lot to the Pack.
“Carmen has a lot of speed and a lot of pace,” Moffat said. “She’s got a lot of heart and is very coachable.
“I have worked with Carmen for a few years and she has taken all of our feedback and implemented it in her next game, her next season — there is great potential.”
Izyk didn’t make the Alberta U16 team last year, but worked her way to making the national champion U18 squad this year.
“She had a good tournament — good hits, her defence has improved and her attack was very strong.”
Moffat said it wasn’t a surprise Mior was able to make the U18 squad at such a young age.
“Some might see it as a surprise but Brogan, just like Carmen, is very coachable and looking to be the best player she can be,” Moffat said. “Coming off the U16s last year, she went and did some training, she got recognized by Canada — she’s just off the Canada tour.”
“In my mind [making U18] wasn’t a surprise at all.”
Mior was a jack of all trades for the Pack.
“She played well and had to fill in a couple of different roles she is not used to playing,” Moffat said. “She played in the 15 spot and started one game at 10. She did whatever we asked her to do.”
The Wolf Pack was a perfect 4-0 in the tournament. They opened with a 41-0 win over the Prairie Blizzard on Aug. 15 and then beat Nova Scotia 46-14 on Aug. 16. Mior kicked a convert in the victory.
The Pack then shutout Ontario 49-0 in the semifinal. Izyk scored a try in the win.
Bronze medallists
The Foothills Lions had three players on the Alberta Wolf Pack U16 women’s squad, which won the bronze medal by beating the Nova Scotia Keltics 60-7 on Sunday morning.
The Lions were Kylie Manser, Sydney Stevens and Jasmine Leslie.
Leslie was a late addition due to an injury to another player.
She had a try in the national tournament.
To see the full results of the Canadian Rugby Championship go to canadianrugbychampionship.com
