WESTLOCK — Westlock Thunderbirds running back Calyx Fertuk,16, will represent the province as part of Team Alberta in the Border Battle matchup June 10.
The club's most valuable player (MVP) from 2022, who hails from Athabasca, was named to Football Alberta’s Six-A-Side North-West All-Star team in early May and played in the annual game against the South-East team May 21 in Red Deer.
“It was really nice to experience football at a higher level and to be in the dorms with 48 other football players and experience what it’s like to work and do stuff that’s going to be fun for the future,” said Fertuk.
His ability to block and stay focused on what’s expected were some of the valued skills and traits that earned him a spot on the all-star team. “I have pretty good hands which I’m confident with, which allows me to play to my best,” he added.
The Thunderbirds enter their second season this fall in the Alberta Six-A-Side Football League, which includes 15 teams in two divisions. They recently wrapped up their spring training for high schoolers, which ran from May 1 to 26 with the junior high squad spring training running from May 1 to June 15.
First-year head coach Jared DeJong said the all-star opportunity provides players like Fertuk with a chance to represent their team, get to know other players around the league and gives them some added exposure.
“It’s a big deal for sure. He’s the first one (Thunderbird) but I think he also comes back saying that our best athletes fit in just fine with the rest of the league’s best athletes,” said DeJong. “There’s a lot of opportunities to play football here in Alberta and across the country as well.”
The Grade 10 student at Edwin Parr School has already attended a couple of University of Alberta football training camps and has been scouted for the Edmonton Huskies Football Club. Following the all-star game, Fertuk will represent the province as part of Team Alberta in the Six-A-Side Border Battle in Aberdeen, Sask. June 10.
“It’s going to be an experience to play football at a higher level and see really what I’m made out of compared to the competition,” said Fertuk. “It’s just going to help me get into a better mindset for the season when it comes along in the fall.”
DeJong noted some of the skills and qualities that Fertuk brings to his game, including his heart, effort and his willingness to do what’s required, are what caught the attention of Football Alberta officials.
“Calyx for our team is that ‘do everything player’. He is just one of those guys that you could put anywhere you need him, whether it’s offence or defence. He’s extremely coachable, really wants to learn and asks lots of great questions,” said DeJong. “We actually ended up in that (all-star) tryout taking Calyx from defence to offence, just for that purpose and he really excelled. He does things 100 per cent, there’s no taking a break or quitting on plays with Calyx. I think those are the things that he showed well in that game that got him to that next team and showed all the coaches, not just ours in Westlock but all coaches around the league how valuable of a player he is.”
