Sabres on Team Alberta - Sabres Football

The first ever Football Canada Cup was conceived in 1993 with Alberta, B.C., Manitoba and Quebec all traveling to Calgary for a two game tournament and has grown ever since. Alberta has been on the podium 11 times out of 13, winning the national championship 5 times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001), coming in second four times (1996, 2003, 2004 and 2005), and placing third twice (1999 and 2002).

Salisbury has been represented at 6 of the cups.

1997

1999

2001

2002

2004

2005

2005
Salisbury represented by Offensive Lineman Darren Hinds
Manitoba & Alberta 2-1 in round robin
(MB wins as a result of head-to-head win)

Two-time member of Team Canada
2005 NFL Global Junior Champions
Tournament 1st Team All-Star Team

2004

July 20, 2004

Salisbury's Dermott and Budinski Bring Home Hardware

Of the five Sabres who made Team North, two continued to play football with Team Alberta this summer. Quarterback Brock Dermott and Fullback Tyler Budinski represented Salisbury in Ottawa with their Albertan teammates playing all-star teams from Sasksatchewan, BC, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Dermott was instrumental in leading a Team North drive in the last minute of the Senior Bowl to tie the game and send it into overtime. Dermott is Salisbury's 4th quarterback to make Team Alberta. Budinski, who was on the field the majority of the Senior Bowl, scored the winning overtime touchdown in the North-South contest.

At the Canada Cup, Alberta received a bye to the semi-finals where they beat Manitoba 32-21. The final was a rematch of last year's final with Alberta facing Ontario, a team that has won the tournament the last 2 years running. With a last minute field goal, Team Alberta tied the game and sent both teams to overtime. Sadly, in overtime Team Ontario prevailed for their third straight title.

During the tournament, Dermott had the second highest QB rating of the 10 quarterbacks going 10 for 18 for 208 yards in the final . On the other hand, Budinski who carried the load during the North-South game in Alberta was limited to only 3 carries. Apparently, a fullback-based running game plan was not in the works as it was successfully utililized in the North-South game.

What is important is that once again Team Alberta brought home hardware. Their record now is 5 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze in the 11 years a formal national title has been held.

2002

Salisbury represented by Offensive Lineman Kevin Currie

Game 1 report

Team Alberta suffers heartbreaking loss 13-7 at the hands of Manitoba
On a very muggy hot Sunday afternoon Team Alberta struggled on offense and took too many penalties in falling victim to an inspired Manitoba team how beat Alberta for the first time in 6 years. Manitoba opened the scoring with a field goal following 4 Alberta penalties including an interference call following a Manitoba fumble on their own 18 yard line that overturned an Alberta recovery. Alberta drove within field goal range themselves with Brent Fulmek hitting a 43 yard field goal - a Manitoba penalty for rough play was accepted by Alberta who took the points of the board and advanced the ball 15 yards unfortunately the very next play was a fumble by Alberta recovered by Manitoba. Alberta finally broke through on the scoreboard late in the second quarter when Jay Meraw picked up a loose ball and fell across the goal line. Alberta had come into scoring position following a long completion from Brian Bergsma to Josh Born. Fulmek's convert was good to go up 7-3. That was the score as both teams sought shelter from the heat and attempted to put things in order for the second half. The game remained 7-3 late into the fourth quarter when Team Manitoba got the break of the game on a punt return fumble that was scooped upon Alberta's 35 and raced in untouched by the Manitoba player. The convert was good to put Manitoba up 10-7. Manitoba subsequently got a field goal following a turnover on downs. Team Alberta fought back with less than 3 minutes to go driving within scoring range following a nice completion to John Harding. With 2 minutes to go Bergsma found Harding in the endzone the ball was a bit underthrown and bounced in the air in the endzone intercepted by Manitoba ending Alberta's chances to win gold at this year's tournament. Alberta will now play New Brunswick on Wednesday the winner of that game will go on to the Bronze medal game Saturday while Manitoba awaits the winner of Nova Scotia vs Ontario also on Wednesday.

Game 2 report
Team Alberta bounces back with a convincing 29-0 win over New Brunswick
Following a couple of days of practice Team Alberta took to the field down a few players to injury and prepared for a passing attack from New Brunswick, the defense held them off the scoreboard including a blocked punt late in the fourth while the offense got on track with some fine passing by Brian Bergsma, a couple of catches from John Harding and some key runs by Cory Lemiski and game MVP Alex Andrews. Special teams chipped in with a 2 point safety following a poor New Brunswick snap on a punt and a blocked punt by Matt Singer which he subsequently chased down into the endzone and recovered for a touchdown. Brent Fulmek was good on all convert attempts to round out the scoring. Team Alberta will now meet Nova Scotia in the medal game Saturday at 10:00 am Eastern time. The team went to the Parliament building on the off day as well as attending the Ottawa Renegades football game Thursday night.

Game 3 report
Alberta dominates early and late defeating Nova Scotia 37-6 for Bronze.
Team Alberta dominated Nova Scotia from the start of the game particularly on defense and then cruised through the second half most of which was played with the mercy rule in effect as they secured a 37-6 victory over Nova Scotia to claim the bronze medal at the 2002 championships. Nova Scotia came into the early Saturday morning game following a close loss to Ontario that had featured a very efficient passing attack. Team Alberta's defensive scheme for the day worked exceptionally as they gave up no first downs and negative yards in the first half. Meanwhile the offense got off to a good start with solid field position as touchdowns by Alex Andrews (2), Brian Bergsma and Wes Levitt with Brent Fulmek making good on four converts for a 30-0 lead at the half. Nova Scotia came out on their first series of the second half and managed to string together a couple of first downs driving toward the endzone but the drive was snuffed out with a Dave Brown interception. On the next series of offensive plays Alberta was forced to punt deep in their own end and the snap hit the uprights, recovered the ball on Alberta's 5 yard line. Nova Scotia punched the ball in narrowing the margin and putting the mercy rule on hold until Alberta responded with a long pass to John Harding and a touchdown run by Cory Lemisky, with the kick of the convert the final score was set at 7-6 as the mercy rule which leaves the clock running once again kicked in to play.

2001

Medicine Hat - Alberta wins Gold in Scorching Heat

Salisbury represented by Linebacker Darcy Bennett, Center Ian Cuff
and Safety Jordan Winkel

Darcy Bennett, Ian Cuff and Jordan Winkel have completed their high school football careers with a National Title. This past weekend saw Medicine Hat host the Canada Cup for under 19 year old football players. The home team was a perfect 3-0 beating Nova Scotia (59-0), New Brunswick (35-7), and Manitoba (49-21) in round robin play. The game against Manitoba was considered the gold medal game since both teams were 2-0 heading into Saturday's match. A noteworthy highlight of the tournament for a Sabre was Jordan Winkel's 90 yard touchdown return of an interception during the Nova Scotia game.

July 20, 2001
Darcy Bennett selected as All-Canadian

Darcy Bennett, linebacker and runningback for 2000 season has been selected by Football Canada for the All-Canadian Team. Darcy was selected as a defensive back based on his play with the National Champions, Team Alberta who just won the title last week in Medicine Hat.

Darcy's stellar high school career seems to be never ending; however, unless there is an All-World team, this future University of Alberta Golden Bear must now move up to the next level of football. The Salisbury Sabre Football Program is very proud of Darcy and his accomplishments and will be watching him as he continues his career in football.