Talking QB's

7 Big Air QB's join Coach Gies to talk about their individual journeys in 2021!  Interlake Thunder QB, Josh Charison talks about deciding to play junior football in the BCFC for The Valley Huskers.  River East and Team Toba QB Zach Topping talks about his opportunity this fall at Canada Prep!  Tommy Walls joins us from his current summer tour in the USA, and Riley Naujoks talks about making the move from the starting job with the Winnipeg Rifles to a new situation with The Manitoba Bisons.  QB's Thomas Hubbard, Nathan Leiteo and Kyle Logan talk about being in camp with the Winnipeg Rifles and their upcoming inter squad game!  Lastly Coach Gies addresses the lack of proper QB footwork, and some perspective on leadership in our community.

Former Winnipeg Rifles standout receivers Kurt Goodrich and Julian Banares join Coach Gies to talk about their backgrounds in the game!  Both pass catchers share their early beginnings playing community club football in Winnipeg!  We talk about their High School football days and how we all connected at the Provincial team level many years ago.  Kurt shares his real reason why he decided to retire from the game and Julian talks about finding flag football as a competitive outlet after finishing his junior career, being able to represent both Manitoba and Team Canada at the national level!  

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Long snapper and Linebacker Mike Bensen joins Coach Gies to talk about his journey in the game.  Mike shares his humble beginnings playing multiple sports and realizing early in his high school career that he had great talent in the game of football.  Mike talks about winning a High School Championship at St.Pauls High School in 2003 and speaks highly of Head Coach Stacy Dainard.  Mike tells his unique story after high school where he took time off from the game to go backpacking, coming back home to play Major and then CJFL football which led him to the University of Acadia and being signed as a free agent by Edmonton of the CFL.  Mike shares great insight of the mindset it takes to play both at the USports and the professional level! 

Coach Gies interviews former CFL vets Shawn Gallant (11 year pro) and Cory Huclack (x2 Grey Cup Champ), telling their football stories and growing up in their families.  We talk about the importance of the multi sport athlete, earning a living in the CFL playing special teams and we discuss how they adapted to the pandemic.  An absolutely entertaining episode from start to finish!!!

Vincent Massey Vikings, Head Coach, Mike Steeves and his Quarterback Justin Sharp join Coach Gies to talk about their backgrounds in the game!  We chat about MIke's 87 Championship season, Justin's incredible body transformatiion and his dedication to improving everyday.  We talk about the return of the CFL, and expectations for the upcoming season!  

Simon Fraser University QB Coach, Jay Prepchuk joins Coach Gies to talk about the inner workings of successfully coaching the QB and team!  Coach Prepchuk shares great insights into building relationships with his players and we talk about how we as coaches can create positive environments through our mindset and body language that allow for our players to be comfortable and enjoy the experience!  We finish the episode by playing another fun game of the "QB jersey game!"  

Head Coach of The Manitoba Fearless Brett MacFarlane, and his former LB Isabelle McDonald join Coach Gies to talk about Women's football in Manitoba.  We talk backgrounds, where ironically both Brett and Isabelle both grew up in Woodlands, Manitoba. They both share their stories in the game, what first drew them in and people that mentored them throughout their respective journeys. Isabelle caps off the episode sharing her new football adventure going across the pond to play for The Manchester Titans!

Montreal Allouettes LB and Co-founder of Pro Prep Academy, DJ Lalama,  joins Coach Gies to talk about the ups and downs throughout his football career.  DJ shares his early football days as a Running-back in youth football for the Fort Garry Lions.  He talks about the step up to High School football at St.Pauls and making the switch to the defensive side of the ball.  We go through his provincial team success, recruiting process to Western University and then returning home to play the remainder of his collegiate career with the UofM Bisons.  DJ shares very interesting stories about attending New York Giants mini camp, being the last pick in the CFL Draft and he talks about attending CFL training camps with Edmonton and Montreal! 

Former Calgary Stampeders QB and future MD, Andrew Buckley joins Coach Gies to share his unique football story.  Andrew talks about his early days in football, the success of winning "back to back" High School Provincial Championship's at Rundle College.  Andrew shares that he was a late bloomer, as he was cut from The Alberta Provincial teams and did not receive much recruiting interest for Universities and Junior programs.  We talk about choosing to play at home for The Calgary Dinos and how Andrew worked his way up from the #8 QB on the depth chart to lead an amazing career full of team and personal success and accolades.  Andrew shares his draft day experience being selected as the last pick (7th round, #62 pick) of the 2015 draft by The Calgary Stampeders and his respect and admiration for HC Dave Dickensen!

Former Bison RB and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Focus Fitness AJ Zeglen, joins Coach Gies along with Winnipeg Rifles Specialty Teams Coordinator, Graeme Jones.  AJ and Jonesy talk about growing up in the game of football, we discuss the state of their NFL teams after the draft and talk about the importance of the Canadian game.  We reminisce about the 1998 Championship game and we stress how important those years are for a young athlete!