NCAFA: 65 years of Our Huddle Includes EVERYONE

NCAFA President Gawain Harding has been a fixture on local football fields for the past two decades. Gawain was instrumental in the creation and growth of the Gatineau Viking and now takes his progressive “players first” approach league wide, as he and others work tirelessly to keep building the sport.NCAFA president Gawain Harding joins us to kick off the 2023 offseason.

We kick off the 2022 NCAFA season in the appropriate fashion with NCAFA and Gatineau Vikings President Gawain Harding. A fixture on local football fields for the last two decades, Gawain was instrumental in the creation and growth of the Gatineau Vikings. Gawain has now taken his progressive “players first” approach league wide as he leads NCAFA in into the future.

Although he didn’t play or coach in NCAFA, one can argue that coach Denis Piché has had the biggest impact on many NCAFA players after they moved on to the next level. Many of our previous guests have talked in glowing terms about playing for Coach P and his impact on both their playing careers and lives. A success wherever he has gone, 2006 uSport coach of the year Denis Piché joins us to talk about his playing days in Ottawa and a coaching career that has spanned 3 decades and covered 2 continents. Denis also talks about the growth of football in Ottawa and the vital role NCAFA played and continues to play in so many young lives.

All too often in youth sport we lose sight of the big picture and the value that team sport has in terms of life lessons and opportunity. Our guest today on the podcast reminds us of that. North Gloucester Giants grad and Ghanaian immigrant Cyril Adjeitey joins us and talks about his first exposure to football as youngster from Africa. Believing he was heading to “football” practice (soccer as we know it) he describes his shock in seeing shoulder pads and helmets. Quickly falling in love with and excelling in the game, Cyril parlayed his incredible on field skills to an outstanding career at the University of Ottawa, culminating in 2 All Canadian selections and 3 All OUA selections. More importantly it’s what Cyril did in the classroom that is truly leaving it’s mark. Graduating with a master’s degree in Biochemistry, Cyril has joined a company that among other things is the world’s leading producer of COVID-19 testing kits. Like many in his field, Cyril toils quietly behind the scenes making life better for all of us. A true champion on and off the field, Cyril is the epitome of success and has always served as an incredible role model.

The phrase “been there, done that” may be used often, but in the case of Ottawa West Knights Midget coach Jimmy Fata it is soooo applicable. The 2018 Midget Coach of the Year wears/has worn so many “hats” in the Ottawa community it’s almost unbelievable! Here are only of few of those: NCAFA player, Semi-Pro player with the legendary Ottawa Bootleggers, NCAFA coach, OFA Ref, Ottawa RedBlacks super fan, Ottawa Firefighter and really, just a great guy!! It was a great opportunity for us to be able to catch up with Jimmy and chat football and life. Truly one of the good guys it was a lot of fun to talk to such a selfless dude who is giving back where he can and epitomizes what is GOOD about youth football here in the capital. Of course we would be remiss if we didn’t ask Jimmy how the now iconic “Zipper Face” came to be! Thanks for everything you’re doing, we need more Jimmy Fatas!

It’s the behind the scenes work that often goes unrecognized or unnoticed, but it is this work that is crucial to the day to day operations of NCAFA. Thanks to the countless hours spent by volunteers, legions of young athletes have had the opportunity to experience and grow in our great sport. At the head of each club is that point person who helps lead the way. For the Panthers that person is Mike Schmidt. Having grown up a multi sport athlete, it was inevitable that the son of a CFL ref developed a life long passion for the sport of football. After playing for the East Gloucester Bengals, Gloucester Dukes and the Junior Riders, the evolution to coach was not only inevitable but seamless. Since his early days, Mike has worked tirelessly to help provide a healthy, safe and competitive environment for football players in the east end. Mike jumps on the podcast to talk about is playing days in NCAFA and some of the initiatives taken on by the Cumberland Panthers, one of the leaders in youth sports in the Nation’s capital. Thanks for your efforts Mike!!

Long before Ken Evraire was taking the stage as the CFL East’s nominee for most outstanding Canadian, he was learning his craft with NCAFA’s now defunct Strathcona Park Packers. From humble beginnings with the Packers, Evraire achieved stardom on the gridiron, making his mark with the Laurier Golden Hawks (all Century team, 2 time all Canadian, 3 time all OUA) and in the CFL (9 year career, CFL East All-Star). What separates Ken from a lot of his contemporaries is his life after football. After a seemingly effortless transition, Ken has gone on to be a bit of a local celebrity and his name has become synonymous with local sports and team building. Huge thanks to Kenny for taking the time in a very hectic schedule to jump on the podcast.

If you were to go into the lab and create the perfect NCAFA football coach, they would probably look a lot like Carlos Blizzard. Coach Blizzard, the epitome of the selfless NCAFA volunteer has spent the better part of the last four decades roaming local sidelines and mentoring young athletes. Coaching at all levels, Carlos has been a part of the Nepean Norsemen, Gloucester South Raiders and Nepean Eagles and if that wasn’t enough, coach Blizzard also spent many years volunteering as a youth basketball coach. An awesome story teller, Carlos talks about his journey from Trinidad to Goose Bay, Labrador to a stellar career at Bishop’s university. An injury in his senior year cut short his shot at a pro career, but the pro’s loss was NCAFA’s gain as Carlos jumped head first into what would be a coaching career spanning decades. Thanks again to Coach Blizzard for his efforts over the years and for taking the time to join us on the podcast.

Bel-Air Lions graduate Carlo Disipio jumps on the podcast and rehashes “old school” football and talks about how it’s changed. In his day Disipio was a feared running back at every level he played and was known throughout the city for his bruising, take no prisoners style of running. Carlo is also a member of that exclusive club to have played every level of football in Ottawa culminating with the Ottawa Rough Riders in their final season. A walk down memory lane, Carlo gets into his days in NCAFA, Laurentian HS intramurals, Cape Breton Capers football and.........mullets, amongst other other things.

Past president Steve Dean joins the podcast today to discuss his 15 year tenure at the head of NCAFA(2004-2019). Football in general has undergone seismic changes in the last 25 years, both in safety and participation. The expansion of flag, touch and girls football under the NCAFA umbrella took off after the turn of the century and Steve joins us to talk about his efforts and specifically the tireless hours spent by the myriad of NCAFA volunteers to expand the game, increase safety and grow what was already the leading minor football league in Canada.

Nepean Eagles grad and Grey Cup Champion Ettore Lattanzio jumps on the podcast and talks about his start in NCAFA, his days at UOttawa and ultimately becoming a Grey Cup champion with his hometown Redblacks. At 6’0” 270, ET has always been considered “undersized “ at the DT position. Ettore talks about what it took to “break that mold” and earn his spot at a position usually reserved for Americans. As an added bonus ET takes us through a typical snap in the life of a CFL defensive lineman.

University of Ottawa Football Alumni Association aka “1881” chairman Tom Casagrande jumps on the podcast with us for this latest edition. An Ottawa native, Tommy had quite the stellar career with the U of O Gee-Gees, followed by a pro stint in Europe. Not as involved as he wanted to be in football, Tommy jumped in head first at the opportunity to become involved with his alma mater and get back into the game. A product of NCAFA’s Bel-Air Lions, Tom reminisces a little about his days as a Lion and what they meant to him. Tommy also talks about what the future holds for the 1881 and his thoughts on football here in the nation’s capital.

Constable Darren Joseph of the Ottawa Police services Neighbourhood Resources Team has been tirelessly giving back to the community now for over 15 years in his role with the police. A mentor for our youth of today, DJ has also found time to volunteer to coach for many NCAFA clubs (including but not limited to the Gloucester South Raiders) as well as guest coaching at several skill development camps. Prior to this however DJ was busy becoming a bit of a local legend at the RB position culminating with a 12 year pro career. Holder of records at every level he played at (CJFL single season rushing record, CFL most special teams tackles in a game, etc.) Darren also holds the distinction of having played every level of football in Ottawa. Starting his career with NCAFA’s Britannia-Bayshore Broncos, DJ played city ball, scholastic ball, junior ball, university ball and finally pro ball right here in the nation’s capital. And all this stemmed from his mother’s passion for the Ottawa Rough Riders back in the 1960s.....

Almost every football player in the National Capital region has paid a visit to “The Bob Barr Football Field” in Kanata. It’s namesake, Coach Bob Barr has been active at all levels in the Kanata Knights organization for the past 37 years and continues to do so. A bit of a local football legend, Coach Barr started his journey as a parent volunteer (aka bag holder) and evolved into one of the more knowledgeable and recognizable football coaches in Kanata. Over the course of the last four decades Coach Barr has been a position coach, coordinator and head coach as well as serving as club president, basically he’s done it all, while serving as a mentor to Kanata’s youth and touching many young lives along the way.

Today we get to chat with NCAFA/ NG Giants alum Ron Omara and learn about his family‘s Ugandan roots, his own journey from the prairies of Saskatchewan to Gatineau, QC. and his rise to the CFL. Ron’s father fled the oppressive Idi Amin regime in Uganda, redoing his education after earning a scholarship in Canada and earned his PHD, setting the example for Ron and his siblings, as they excel not just in sports but in life. Learn about Ron’s ascension through the local football ranks all the way to having his name called by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the 2015 CFL Draft. Ron guides us through his journey, his time at St.FX, and his time in the pros. A very impressive young man shares some advice for aspiring players as well as talking about giving back by coaching and even takes the time to recognize current Giants president Chris Lalonde and his tireless/ selfless deeds.