Proud Grandpa Bob can’t say enough about his 18-year-old grandson Evan Patrick, who is on the defensive line for the newly-formed Prince George Kodiaks, part of the BC Junior Football Conference, who play their inaugural home game against the Kamloops Broncos on Saturday at Masich Place Stadium.
“As Evan Patrick’s Grandpa and Granny we (and the entire family) are so proud of Evan’s success in competitive sports and his acceptance and commitment to play in the inaugural season with the Prince George Kodiaks,” Grandpa Bob said in an email. “Evan brings with him a strong family background in sports, with his father Terry active in hockey and coaching and his older brother Graeme a Canadian Junior Hockey League player."
Evan grew up in Winnipeg and started out his sports career in hockey when he was five years old. He did many other sports in school as well but when he discovered football in his senior year of high school he knew he found his sport.
“Everything changed for me when I found football,” Evan said. “This is the sport I want to take seriously and when I heard about the Kodiaks in Prince George everything seemed right at the time and me and my family decided this is where I was going to go this year.”
Evan said football gave him a chance to express how he feels.
“In football there are no penalties for being aggressive,” Evan said who is 6’4” and weighs 265 lbs. “In other sports it might be a disadvantage and that comes with a lot of penalties but playing football I can just let it all out on the field.”
In the upcoming home game, Evan will be back on the roster of healthy players after briefly being sidelined by injury for the Kodiaks first away game that took place July 23 in Chilliwack against the Valley Huskers. The Kodiaks were defeated 31-5.
The Kodiaks are promoting their first home game with a rally on Friday night at the Hart Community Centre from 5 to 10 p.m. and there’s some pre-game fun to be had on Saturday day as well at Masich Place Stadium before the game starts at 7 p.m.
Grandpa Bob thought it was important to speak to Evan’s character and shared this story.
“Evan is always looking after others in need and that was first noticed in elementary school when he challenged an older schoolyard bully bothering other students at recess,” Grandpa Bob recalled, who is a retired police sergeant. “Evan got disciplined for getting involved but I can’t tell you how proud I was of him that day.”
So what’s next for Evan and his football career?
Evan said he’ll be returning to Winnipeg after the 10-game season in Prince George.
“I know other players plan on staying and making Prince George their home so they can stay and play with the team but I will be returning to Winnipeg,” Evan said. “But while I’m on this team I’ll be giving 100 per cent.”
Evan said he knows his teammates will be doing the same during Saturday’s game and that’s something that Grandpa Bob backed up with these words.
“Evan’s stature and personality and love of sports has always been his strongest attributes,” Grandpa Bob said. “He has always been a team player giving his all for his teammates and friends and as a 6’4”, 265 lb player, we know he will contribute 100 per cent for each game. The family misses him while he is away in BC with his billet family but we will sure be avidly watching the team’s performance. Go get ’em Kodiaks.”
For more information about the Prince George Kodiaks visit https://www.facebook.com/pgkodiaks/.
For tickets to the game visit Prince George Kodiaks Football team tickets.
