A rocky start for the team that was to represent Canada internationally led local product Scott Ledieu to back out, but that doesn’t mean he’s finished with football.
The former Athabasca Pacer, Edmonton Wildcat and University of Alberta Golden Bear was invited to play for Team Canada at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) tournament this summer.
But due to the steep participation cost, frequent cancellations and several other “unknowns,” Ledieu decided it was best to back out.
From the beginning, the team and the tournament seemed doomed.
Over the winter, the tournament was moved to Canton, Ohio after several issues arose with the original Swedish host. That was followed up by one of three tryouts for Team Canada eventually being cancelled earlier this spring.
Then, last Wednesday, Ledieu received an email that coaching staff had pulled out.
He suspected a lack of interest, players unable to afford the $2,500 price tag or missed tight fundraising deadlines were the reasons behind the tryout cancellations.
Three Golden Bears were invited to the tryouts in Moose Jaw and two made it, including Ledieu, but that wasn’t enough to get him to go.
“It’s was nice to make the team. It would have been cool to play and say I was named to Team Canada (but) I decided with the high price tag and unknowns, it would be better to pull out,” he said.
Despite the obstacles, Ledieu has kept busy with the CFL Combine process. Representatives from all CFL teams attended the regional combines in Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal last month.
From there, a number of eligible players were invited to the national combine in Toronto. Ledieu was one of four from Edmonton that made it.
Overall he thought it went well, especially on the one-on-one drill, but said he struggled with the agility test and knocked over a cone in the first attempt and slipped in the second.
So far, Ledieu hasn’t heard from any scouts. Because of his coming and going on different teams in his university and junior career, he won’t be draft eligible, but the doors remain open as a free agent.
“Based on how I did and other players did at the combine, after the draft, if teams need bodies for camp or positions, I could get a call to go to a training camp. If not, football from a playing perspective is over,” he said.
If Ledieu had his sights set on playing down south in the NFL, he answered realistically.
“At this point of my career, it would have already happened,” he added.
Although his career as a player might soon be over, Ledieu had been eyeing a switch to coaching.
Last week, he wrapped up final exams and will head into his final semester and practicum portion of his teaching degree this fall at the U of A.
“One of the main reasons I got into teaching was because I wanted to coach,” he said.
He recalled having some great coaches over the years who inspired him to take on the coaching roll.
One lesson he remembered was from Darcy Park, head coach of the Edmonton Wildcats during his time there.
“His model is, ‘for every year football has given to you, you have to give back to football.’”
Ledieu has played seven years at the junior and university level plus four years with the Pacers. He said it was his time to give back.
“I’m very excited and I want to give back to the game, and hopefully for longer,” he stated, noting he will be assisting the Wildcats during tryouts this summer.
