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BEN LEESON | SUDBURY STAR | July 28, 2011 Kevin Ellsworth isn't quite ready to order another full serving of summer football. But he admits that, after one season as head coach of the Sudbury Junior Gladiators squad, his appetite has been whetted. "I have been a coach for 30 years, but this was the first time I coached a travel team, and it was a blast," Ellsworth said Wednesday, four days after the juniors lost their Ontario Football Conference quarter-final matchup, 42-28 to the Huronia Stallions. "You're working with 40 kids who really are the cream of the crop from the city and they want to learn. Seeing them progress has really been gratifying." Ellsworth, already head coach at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, had turned down varsity jobs in the past. But when his son, Brady, decided to sign up this year, he agreed to take over for the Gladiators' second season in the OFC junior loop. And he made an immediate impact. In its first game of 2011, the Sudbury squad did what it had failed to do in eight games last year -- record a victory, 41-14 over the Clarington Knights The juniors went on to finish a very respectable 4-4 and earn their first post-season berth. There they competed well against first-place Huronia, trailing by as little as a single touchdown with a only minute to play, before trying an onside kick that was returned by the Stallions for a major. "We may not be pleased with the end result, but we were glad we were able to keep it close," Ellsworth said. While he has received much of the credit for the team's turnaround this year, Ellsworth is quick to deflect praise toward his players and staff. "The kids bought in from the start, really," Ellsworth said. "And the coaches were very committed. Every game, we just got better and better and you could see the players starting to believe in themselves. They realized they could compete." Following his son's graduation from the junior program, Ellsworth is mulling a return to the sideline in 2012. "I haven't made a decision yet," he said. "That won't be decided until the last executive meeting of the year, after the seniors finish up, which hopefully won't be for another few weeks. But If I am back, it will be at the junior level. "I have the same family considerations as before. And, of course, I have to see which of the other coaches will be back, as well. That's something I'm still feeling out. There are a lot of factors that play into it." Gladiators general manager Chris Bartolucci, for one, hopes Ellsworth returns. "He did a fantastic job," Bartolucci said. "To go from 0-8 last year to playing .500 ball this year, that's excellent. We knew that Kevin was a blue-chipper and we have been after him for a couple of years. Now that we have him involved, we hope he sticks around." Whether or not he returns, Ellsworth believes the future of the junior program looks bright. "Obviously, we'll lose some key players, but we'll keep a good core," Ellsworth said. "That's another drawing factor for the coaches, the chance to work with these kids for another three months." Local high school teams, as a result, can only get better. "That's what it's about, honestly," Ellsworth said. "If you want to have some further impact at the high school level, junior is the place to be, knowing that these kids have two or three years of high school experience left." RANDY PASCEL | SUDBURYSPORTS.COM | July 26, 2011 The final score may well have read - Huronia 42 Sudbury 28 - but Junior Gladiators coach Kevin Ellsworth insisted he could not have asked for more from his team, battling in the OFC (Ontario Football Conference) playoffs for the very first time. With roughly one minute to play and his team trailing by a touchdown (35-28), Ellsworth and company were preparing for an on-side kick Sunday in Barrie, presented with a possible opportunity for a game-tying drive. As it was, Huronia capitalized on the gamble, returning the kick the distance for an insurance touchdown. However, considering the first time the teams met, the Huronia Stallions manhandled the Gladiators to the tune of 45-7, it's easy to understand the coach Ellsworth's assessment of the rematch. "It was absolutely phenomenal," said Ellsworth on Monday evening. "We played them almost even. It was really a great way to end the season. We executed the best we had all year." Trailing 13-7 at half-time, the locals rode a strong passing game, as their leading rusher (QB Brady Ellsworth) was limited to just 45 yards gained on the ground. Thankfully, the Lo-Ellen Knights' product managed to throw for three touchdown passes, adding a one yard quarterback sneak for a major as the visitors stayed in this game right to the very end. Christian Battistelli, Connor Mick and Kevin Lavoie were all on the receiving end of Ellsworth's TD passes. In just their second year of OFC play, the Junior Gladiators qualified for the post-season with a record of 4-4, just a year removed from dropping all eight outings last summer. While the team will be hit be key graduations, as would be expected, there will remain some building blocks in place. Three quarters of the Sudbury starting defensive line have just graduated from grade eight, creating a core that could still compete at this level for two more years. As well, Ellsworth believes that offensive stalwarts Hunter Holub, Matthew Glass, Jonathan Landry and Connor Mick can form the nucleous of a potent Gladiators attack in 2012. Interestingly enough, while his son is set to move up to the varsity Gladiator ranks, coach Ellsworth insists that he is more interested in remaining with the junior program for a least one more year. "There's still a few things to iron out, but if I do come back, it will be with the junior team," said Ellsworth. And given the foundation that has been put in place, that's good news for fans of Sudbury Gladiators football. In varsity playoff action, Sudbury will play host to the Huronia Stallions at 4:00 p.m. this coming Saturday at the James Jerome Sports Complex. The Stallions advanced after blanking the Clarington Knights 26-0, while Sudbury enjoyed an easier route to the conference final, awarded a forfeited victory after a rash of injuries prevented the Toronto Jr Argos from making the trek north last weekend. BRUCE HEIDMAN | SUDBURY STAR | July 19, 2011 The Sudbury Junior Gladiators wrapped up a tremendous regular season in the Ontario Football Conference on Saturday. After a disappointing 0-8 season last year, the Junior Gladiators evened their record at 4-4 with a decisive 38-12 victory over the Clarington Knights at James Jerome Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon in the team's final regular season game. What a turnaround, though it's just what the coaching staff expected. First-year Junior Gladiators head coach Kevin Ellsworth challenged his team at the start of the season by stating his goal was to reach the playoffs, a monumental task considering the team went winless in its previous campaign. Saturday's win clinched it. "It's a great way for the kids to finish the regular season," Ellsworth said. "To finish the season at .500 is a very nice step for an 0-8 team to go to a 4-4 team. "The kids have really improved and we're really happy to be in the playoffs," he added. "That was the goal at the beginning of the year and now we'll see if we can surprise someone next week (in the playoffs)." Heading into the post-season with a decisive victory should provide a boost. "It's good for the confidence to end the regular season on a winning note," Ellsworth said. "We executed very, very well. The offence did a great job and the defence did, too. We played everyone lots, which was great because of the heat." Matthew Glass and Christian Batistelli scored two touchdowns apiece for the Junior Gladiators on Saturday against Clarington, while quarterback Brady Ellsworth notched one. Kicker Scott Friesen hit one field goal and five PATs to complete the scoring for Sudbury The Junior Gladiators will travel to Barrie on Sunday to face the Huronia Stallions in the opening round of the playoffs. Ellsworth wasn't sure who he would be facing as of Saturday night -- it was either Oakville or Huronia at that point -- but he wasn't all that concerned. "We've lost to both teams this year, but we're OK playing either one in the playoffs," he said. The Gladiators dropped a 45- 7 decision to the Stallions on June 4 in Sudbury's first home game of the season and their second contest of the campaign. The Stallions ruled that game and finished the season 5-2-1, but it will be a more experienced and confident Sudbury squad Huronia will face this weekend. Off the gridiron and onto the track, Hanmer's Ashley Huard continues to impress. The relative newcomer to the national track scene had another amazing performance on the weekend at the Athletics Ontario Senior (20-and-over) Track and Field Championships in Ottawa. Huard, only 17 and competing up an age category, r remarkable streak of medal performances by winning a bronze medal in the 100- metre event in a time of 12.09. That performance comes on the heels of a silver medal in the 100 metres at the national junior championships last weekend. That performance came after her bronze medal at the OFSAA track and field championships, hosted at the Laurentian Community Track in June, where the Grade 11 student from Ecole Secondaire Hanmer won bronze in the 100 metres to turn in the best local performance of the championships. Another Hanmer native, Alicia Violin, was also at the provincial senior meet and turned in a personal best long jump of 5.17 metres to earn an eight-place finish. Back to football for a moment, what a great win by the varsity Gladiators on Saturday over Clarington. Needing a win to clinch home field advantage for the playoffs, Brent Richer's crew turned in it's most exciting performance of the season, with the game-winning touchdown pass being hauled in by Ryan Rochon with 46 seconds remaining in the contest. Most impressive was the play by quarterback Dan Poirier. Despite a rough first half where he failed to complete a pass while getting knocked around by the Knights defence, Poirier was at his best when his team needed him most in its final drive, especially with No. 1 running back Josh Cuomo in street clothes after tweaking his hamstring yet again in Friday's practice. Poirier's calm under pressure will serve him and the Gladiators well during the playoffs. Actually, the whole team handled it tremendously well Saturday when Clarington snatched the lead at 19-16 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. While there was some concern on the Sudbury bench, there was no panic, no players staring at their shoe tops, just an eagerness to get back on the field and get the job done. That, too, will serve the Gladiators well in the post-season. From the best I can tell, it will be the first home playoff football game by a local rep team since 1994. Quite the accomplishment. Hopefully the stands will be full this Saturday to cheer the home side on when they host the Toronto Junior Argonauts. The Gladiators fell 28-14 to the Junior Argos in Toronto back on June 11, Sudbury's third game of the season. It was one of only two wins Toronto put up this season. The Gladiators won the North Division with a 5-3 record and finished third overall in the league behind the undefeated Stampeders and the Predators, who finished the season with one loss. With any luck, those two teams will beat each other up in the South Division playoffs should the Gladiators emerge as the representative from North for the league championship. RANDY PASCEL | SudburySports.Com. | July 16, 2011 Very gradually, the Sudbury Junior Gladiators are taking the steps towards competing, on a regular basis, with the elite of the Ontario Football Conference (OFC). For the opening 30 minutes of last Saturday's encounter with the Oakville Titans (4-1-1), the locals went toe to toe. In fact, a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown by Cameron McDonald late in the second quarter provided Sudbury with a 21-20 lead heading to half time. But in a game where the slightest margin for error is reduced to near zero, the Gladiators flinched first. "They were football mistakes, things that can happen, but the problem was that two of them happened to us," coach Kevin Ellsworth said at practice this week. "We had a miscommunication with our long snapper and our punter and the ball ended up on the ground," he added. "They tackled us, got great field position and scored." Just minutes later, Oakville found a seam in the Sudbury punt coverage, returning a kick some 80 yards, with the two miscues accounting for the only scoring of the second half. It was enough to give the Titans a 35-21 victory but spoke volumes about just how far the local junior squad has come. Matt Glass and Connor Mick punched in the remaining Sudbury majors, both along the ground, while Scott Friesen converted all three scores for the locals. "There's a lot of big guys that know how to tackle," Glass said this week. He made the jump to the OFC this year after spending the past three seasons within the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League ranks. "It's a lot harder for me as a running back,” he continued. “I need to get better at making adjustments, whether to cut outside or cut back inside.” And while the opposition is larger than any he previously faced, so are his teammates. "Our offensive line is amazing — they're huge," Glass said. "It's the biggest line I've ever had in my life." That kind of optimism permeates throughout the Gladiators lineup, much to the pleasure of coach Ellsworth, who continues to find plenty of reason to smile in his first year with the team. "I like their intensity," he said. "I like the fact that they scored on us first and we bounced right back. These kids, they just don't quit." Sudbury will take their 3-4 record into a critical final matchup with the Clarington Knights this Saturday, having defeated the visitors 41-14 when the teams first met in southern Ontario back in late May. "We know that they are a much improved team," Ellsworth said. "We need to make sure that we protect the ball, catch the ball when we have the opportunity to catch the ball, and eliminate the mental mistakes that are still hurting our defence periodically." The Sudbury and Clarington junior matchup, at 1 p.m. on the turf at the James Jerome Sports Complex, kicks off a Saturday double-header, with the respective varsity teams taking to the field at 4 p.m. BEN LEESON| Sudbury Star | July 7, 2011 The Sudbury Gladiators kept asking Kevin Ellsworth to coach. And he kept saying no. "I have been turning them down for years," said Ellsworth, 47. "My wife and I are both teachers and I wanted to make sure I had time for my family. "But this year, my kid decided to play. I had always said, 'As soon as he decides to play, I'll get involved.' "So, I called them before the start of the season and I said, 'Hey, it looks like Brady's going to play this year,' and they were like, 'OK, we want you to be the head coach.' " So Ellsworth, already boss on the sidelines at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, took the reins of the junior varsity Gladiators for its second season in the Ontario Football Conference. The juniors were looking to improve on a difficult inaugural campaign during which they were outscored 350-23 en route to posting a league-worst 0-8 record. So far, they've rebounded well. A little more than halfway through their sophomore season, the junior Gladiators are 3-3, good for seventh place in the 12-team OFC, and well within reach of a playoff spot. The Gladiators will be all but assured of a post-season berth if they can upend the Oakville Titans on Saturday. Game time at James Jerome Sports Complex is 1 p.m. "This was a new experience for me, a lot of the kids and most of the staff, so to be .500 at this point in the season is pretty awesome," Ellsworth said. "From the start, we told the players that, from our perspective, success was not just winning a game or two, but making the playoffs." If that happens, Ellsworth said, much of the credit should go to his players, as well as to members of his coaching staff. Reg Bonin, head coach at Lively District Secondary School, is the team's offensive co-ordinator and quarterback coach. Robert Gruhl, Ellsworth's offensive co-ordinator at Lo- Ellen, coaches receivers for the junior Gladiators. Sandy Bissett, a former player for the Gladiators and the McMaster University Mustangs, oversees the offensive line. J.J. McKnight coaches the running backs. Lance Patrie, from Lockerby Composite School, looks after the defensive backs. Kevin Garbuio, another former varsity player who played the gridiron game with the Acadia University Axemen, and Kevin Louis, a former CFLer, work with members of the linebacking corps. "I'm very fortunate to have a very good crew," Ellsworth said. He hopes the club's on-field success serves as a drawing card for prospective players. "We want to firmly instill that this is a rep program," Ellsworth said. " That's one thing we aspire to do. I don't think the talent here has been fully tapped. We have some schools which are really well represented, but others that are not. We have a long way to go to get our name out there. " The way I see it, in this league there are your 'have' teams, teams that are strong and well-run, you have your middle-of-the-pack teams, which is where we are now, then you have your teams that struggle, which is where we were last year -- a fledgling team, trying to find its way. "So we're pleased with the direction in which we're headed." But wins aren't enough. Ellsworth and his staff plan to be more active in recruiting. "That's something (general manager) Chris Bartolucci is very good at, and members of the executive do a good job," Ellsworth said. "But we also hope that kids will go back to their high schools and say, 'Hey, that was a lot of fun.' " Oakville brings a record of 4- 1-1 into Saturday's action. Following the junior game, the varsity Gladiators (3-3) take on the Nipissing Wild (1-4) in a 4 p.m. start. Randy Pascal | SudburySports.Com | July 4, 2011 The schedule-maker may have earned an assist, but give the Sudbury Junior Gladiators credit for taking advantage of the opportunities they were presented. With the Twin-Cities Predators opting to run a pair of junior varsity OFC teams this summer, the Sudbury crew were fortunate enough to draw a home and home schedule with the OFC (Ontario Football Conference) newcomers. After going winless in seven games in their inaugural campaign last summer, the 2011 Junior Gladiators blanked the Predators (II) 29-0 a few weeks back and completed the season sweep at home on Saturday. Leaving nothing to chance, the Junior Gladiators built up a 30-1 lead at the half, waltzing to a 44-1 victory and raising their record, this year, to 3-3 with two home games remaining. Making his return to the lineup after a couple of weeks away, running back Christian Battistelli scampered for touchdown runs of 61 and 63 yards, with Josiah Walt sandwiching a 55 yard interception return in between for a quick 20-0 advantage for the homeside. Quarterback Brady Ellsworth then went to work, connecting with Kevin Lavoie twice (30 and 14 yd TD receptions) while Aaron Campbell converted five of the six Sudbury scores, adding a 10 yard field goal as well. With several second stringers dotting the lineup in the second half, the Gladiators capped off their victory as Connor Mick punched it home from two yards out, just a few plays after Tanaka Chakwesha provided Sudbury with great field position, returning an interception deep into Predators' territory. Splitting time with fellow Walden native Hunter Holub, Ellsworth was pleased with the progress he has made in making the move from wide receiver with the Lo-Ellen Park Knights to quarterback with the Gladiators. "I was throwing on time, instead of holding on to the ball for a long time," Ellsworth said after the contest. "And I was throwing more on target today, throwing to an area instead of to the player." Suffice to say that this was a solid effort for Sudbury on both sides of the ball. "We had to keep up our solid defense, contain to the outsides" noted lineman Devin McCulloch, a grade 8 rookie making the move from his more familiar spot of linebacker when suiting up within the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League (JMYFL). Not blessed with abundant height, McCulloch has learned quickly that strong technique can compensate for a lot. "I've gotten a lot better with my hands, a lot faster and stronger" he said, explaining the "swim move" and other tricks of the trade to be an effective defensive lineman. The locals must now prepare for a stiffer test next weekend as the Oakville Titans bring their 4-1-1 record to the James Jerome Sports Complex on Saturday. "We have to keep the intensity up, come into the game strong and finish the game strong," Ellsworth said. Sudbury closes out regular season play seven days later, battling the Clarington Knights. Randy Pascal | Northern Life | June 16, 2011 Challenges are many with the launch of any new sporting program. More often than not, progress is measured in small steps forward as teams gradually gain an element of respectability within their league. After posting an 0-8 record in their inaugural season of Ontario Football Conference (OFC) play, outscored by a margin of 349-23 in the summer of 2010, the Sudbury Junior Gladiators appeared destined to struggle mightily again this year, even with a degree of increased competitiveness. And while an astonishing 41-14 opening game victory over Clarington has now given way to back-to-back losses, it seems safe to say that this is an entirely different team, starting with the coach. Well-respected high school mentor Kevin Ellsworth — the Phys. Ed. teacher at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary — has taken the plunge in grabbing the head coaching reigns, following his son Brady’s interest in playing throughout the summer. Assembling a large and very diverse coaching staff, Ellsworth knew he would need to gain a buy-in from the players, almost from the outset. Mission accomplished, according to many of the returning vets. “Coach Ellsworth is very intense and really gets us ready for the games,” sophomore safety Josiah Walt, from Confederation Secondary, said. He said constant approachability is also key in the coach’s success. “A players’ coach is always nice to have because they can relate to the players and you can always talk to them and work things out that way.” And Walt is hardly alone is noticing the people skills of the head coach have helped make the Lo-Ellen Park Knights a constant threat within the SDSSAA football league. “Coach Ellsworth just has a weird connection with all of the players — he just makes everything flow,” returning linebacker Cameron McDonald, of Lockerby, said. Still, the Grade 10 Viking was quick to acknowledge the invaluable contribution that coach Sam Cuomo provided one year ago. “Sam was a great one-on-one coach,” McDonald said. “He played linebacker, so he connected with me right off the bat.” A limited number of helping hands on deck, in the form of assistant coaches, was a difficult obstacle to overcome last year. But how things have changed. “There are lots of new faces, lots of new coaches,” McDonald said. “This is the first time in the 25 years or so that I have been coaching that I have not had a specific position responsibility, and frankly, some nights, it drives me insane,” Ellsworth said. Ellsworth and company have benefited not only from larger numbers within the ranks, but also from a solid base of football talent inherited right from the get-go. Grade 10 offensive lineman Pascal Cyr comes to the Junior Gladiators with years of experience within the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League (JMYFL). It’s a background that proved helpful, especially given that his school, Sacre-Coeur, does not field a varsity football team. “I’m considered small for an offensive lineman, but I have really good technique, so that keeps me up there,” Cyr said. It took very little time for the 6-2 center to notice a big difference in moving from local youth football to the OFC Junior Division. “The commitment to playing is way more competitive here. You have to be out here at practice every day.” It’s a jump in level that is obvious to both first and second-year Gladiators alike. “The OFC players, they all know what they’re doing, they’re all dedicated to doing something with football after high school,” McDonald said. He has dreams of moving on to the university league following secondary school graduation. Hoping to help advance those dreams, coach Ellsworth has maintained a simple philosophy in overseeing his staff, both with the Gladiators and the Knights. “I think the biggest thing to being a good head coach is to let the people who are the position coaches do their jobs, not be constantly second-guessing what they’re doing,” he said. A humbling loss to Huronia in game two gave way to a very competitive 24-12 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Junior Argonauts last Saturday, a clear sign that there exists plenty of room for improvement for the younger of the two Gladiators’ teams. For his part, Ellsworth has not deviated one bit from the mindset he held when he first entered training camp almost three months back. “I think that we shocked a lot of people in week one, but we’ve tried to pull the kids back and let them know that it’s a long season and our goal is the playoffs. It’s not about one win.” Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports editor for Northern Life. by Randy Pascal / SudburySports.Com / May 29, 2011 In one fell swoop, an entire season was forgotten. After scoring only three touchdowns through the entire 2010 campaign, dropping eight straight in their first year of OFC (Ontario Football Conference) competition, the Sudbury Junior Gladiators served notice that 2011 is another year entirely. With new coach Kevin Ellsworth at the helm, showcasing an excessively well-balanced offensive attack, the Junior Gladiators ran roughshod over the Clarington Knights, posting a season-opening 41-14 win on the road. Working with a coaching staff that Ellsworth cannot praise enough, the Lo-Ellen teacher admitted Sunday evening that despite two solid months of preparation, both he and his team were entering into a world of the unknown on Saturday. "We really had no idea exactly what to expect," Ellsworth said. "This is a completely new coaching staff, and we had no idea about just how competitive Clarington might be. We thought we could compete." And compete they did, falling behind 6-0 in the first quarter before answering quickly and often behind an offense that showcased the collective talents of running backs Christian Battistelli, Colin Donaldson, Scott Friesen and Matt Glass as well as quarterbacks Hunter Holub and Brady Ellsworth. Offset by a receiving corps that Ellsworth says is "very, very talented", the Gladiators mounted an impressive comeback, to say the least. Interestingly enough, Ellsworth speaks in equally as glowing terms about the staff he has assembled as he does about his lineup. In addition to long-time Lo-Ellen (and Confederation) co-hort Rob Gruhl, Ellsworth has turned to recent graduates Sandy Bissett (linemen) and Kevin Garbuio (defense), as well as bringing aboard the offensive knowledge of former Sudbury Spartans' QB Reg Bonin. While there was no doubt the skill players stepped up when needed, any good football man knows that it's difficult to win if your team is manhandled in the trenches. Thankfully for Ellsworth, his team boasts size and talent on both sides of the line. Pascal Cyr, Keegan Basso, Bauer Negrych, Nicholas Dombek, Eric Fraser, Hayden Tallon and Devin McCulloch provide reason for optimism now, and into the future, with a program that boasts a number of players with years of remaining junior eligibility. "And everyone got lots of playing time," said Ellsworth. "Everybody we brought down saw time on the field." The offense was aided by some key turnovers on the defensive side as both August Danyluk and Jesiah Walt came up with picks for the Junior Gladiators. The team will play their first home game of the year, facing the Huronia Stallions Saturday (June 4th) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at the James Jerome Sports Complex. By BEN LEESON, THE SUDBURY STAR / April 16, 2011 To Sudbury Gladiators head coach Brent Richer, his team's present looks a little like its past. "It reminds me of my first year here," said Richer, head coach of the Ontario Football Conference club since 2009. "This is hoping to be more of a lunch-pail, get-to-work kind of team, one that tries to outwork you and out-pound you. "Last year, we were a little more razzle dazzle." Two of the top razzler dazzlers were starting tailback Joey Martellacci and receiver Josh Haslam, league leaders in their respective yardage categories, who have been lost to graduation. "This year, we'll be aggressive and look to tire teams out," Richer said, prior to Friday's practice at James Jerome Sports Complex. Between the varsity squad, which Richer coaches, and its junior counterpart, led by Kevin Ellsworth, some 90 players are registered for the upcoming season, which starts in May. Last year, Richer's team finished third, behind the Twin Cities Predators and Burlington Stampeders, with a record of 4- 2-2, reaching the semifinals before bowing out against Burlington. And despite the departure of players such as Martellacci and Haslam, Richer believes there's every reason to be optimistic again this season. Several key veterans, including starting quarterback Daniel Poirier, are set to return, "There's a real mix," Richer said. "Of the three birth years we draw from, '92, '93, '94, we have double digits in each category." "We had a big graduating class last year, especially at skill positions. But it's varsity football and every year you have new guys who step up." One who hopes to step up is defensive back Eric Donaldson, a 17-year-old Lo-Ellen Park student set to make his varsity debut. Ellsworth, Donaldson's coach at Lo-Ellen, helped con-v ince him to go out for the Gladiators. "He told me I had potential and that I should expand on that," Donaldson said. He has impressed Richer and the other Gladiators staffers. "They're pretty dedicated and they know what they're talking about," Donaldson said. "This is a good opportunity. Especially being three-down football, the defence has the chance to make some bigger plays." Friday's practice was the last dryland session for the Gladiators, who start training in equipment on Wednesday. Sudbury opens the regularseason schedule on May 28, when they visit the Clarington Knights for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The Gladiators have their home opener on June 4, against the Huronia Stallions, also at 4 p.m. |
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