NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
McCoy Colts offensive lineman Xavier Bueckert poses with his contract with the Calgary Colts Wednesday morning in the gymnasium of Monsigneur McCoy high school.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Xavier Bueckert has wanted to play football after leaving high school for a long time. That desire came true Wednesday.
The McCoy Colts offensive lineman signed with the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League. He said he’s excited to be able to continue his career and play in Calgary.
“It means a lot. A lot of kids don’t get the opportunity or they get spoiled by injury, and I just count myself lucky that I get to go play second level,” Bueckert said. “I wanted to go play second-level football, it didn’t matter where, as long as I went and played in the culture, a good program, and I think they fit me, they’re a building program. They’ve got good coaching and it’ll help me learn the game a whole lot more.”
Wednesday was the national signing day in the CJFL with players being able to put official pen to paper with their clubs. In early April, Vikings’ Colby Schneider and Hat High’s Carter Fisher both committed to the Regina Thunder and Will Donohue from the Hawks had agreed to terms with Chilliwack. Two other Hawks in April had choices to make with multiple teams in the CJFL in Logan Wells and Dylan Callan. They’re joined by other Hat high school players who have yet to finalize their signings.
Bueckert had a strong Grade 12 season with the Colts. He was named the most outstanding linesman in the Rangeland Football Conference. He also represented the South in Football Alberta’s senior bowl on May 23 in Lacombe.
He said he learned patience in what was a building season for the Colts, something he said will help him be the new guy with Calgary.
“We had a lot of guys that were new and didn’t know what they’re doing. But they got it at the end of the season,” Bueckert said. “It was a learning curve and learning to be patient with kids, and I know that’s what will be happening when I go up there, because I’ll be the new kid in town and not know everything.”
There was a time in Grade 7 while attending St. Mary’s/Notre Dame that Bueckert did not want to play football and didn’t attend the first meeting of the season.
He was then called down to the office on the first day of school, thinking he was in trouble. But it was St. Mary’s/Notre Dame coach Chris Perret just wanting to talk.
“You see kids who need football as part of their part of their lives and especially when you go through grade 7, 8, 9, it’s an awkward year for a lot of kids and they need somewhere to belong,” Perret told the News on Wednesday.
Perret was on hand for Bueckert’s contract signing a little over five years after helping rekindle the football spirit in him. He said talking with Perret that day brought him back to the game and helped him a lot.
Bueckert was joined in the CJFL Wednesday by teammate Saige Robertson, who signed with the Prince George Kodiaks.
Robertson said he chose Prince George because he wanted to be a part of the CJFL’s newest club. The Kodiaks were granted an expansion franchise in July 2021 and will make their debut this fall.
“I want to help set the culture out there and show that just because there’s people coming from all over Canada to play, doesn’t mean you can’t become one and just set that responsible and respectful line as a team,” Robinson said.
He said he learned a lot from the two coaches he had while with McCoy, the late Rick Boksteyn and Darrell Grass.
“From coach Boksteyn, I learned if you want something in life, you’re going to have to strive to push for it and be that guy that you want to be,” Robinson said. “With coach Grass, it was more than just that great mentality. There’s a difference between losing the game and getting blown up. Losing the game was on the simple mental mistakes and that stuff everyone can fix and those mentalities are just something that I feel is great for all players to have.”
Bueckert said Grass helped him get to a second-level mentality and helped build the football program at McCoy. He has some famous quotes of coach Boksteyn’s printed on his back plate and said the belief the late coach had in him had a big impact.
“From the first time I met him, I loved the guy, he’s super important to me and I would like to thank him if I could,” Bueckert said. “For how much time and commitment he’s put into me and just giving me this opportunity to sign with a new team and play second level.”
Both Robinson and Bueckert will join their teams when the seasons get underway in August.
