Preparing for the first official season of OWIFA (Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association) play in the fall, coach Lance Patrie and the Laurentian Voyageurs have added some top-end multi-sport talent to their crew for the 2024-2025 season.
A few months ago, the team confirmed their first recruit in the form of Bishop Alexander Carter senior Sierra Boyuk.
Now, the long-time Sudbury Lady Wolves' forward will be joined by a pair of hockey teammates from a few years back as both Maija Potvin (Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School) and Kelly Clark (E.S.C. Champlain) have joined the fold.
In addition to being a member of the U18 AA Lady Wolves for the past two years, Potvin also showed off her athletic versatility at the recent SDSSAA Track & Field Championships, capturing gold in the 100m (12.93) and finishing fourth in the 200m final (27.99).
Equally as diversified when it comes to her sporting prowess, Kelly Clark was part of the NOSSA gold medal winning Requins' volleyball team in addition to leading all SDSSAA girls hockey scorers with 24 goals and 25 assists in 17 Division II games.
"With every sport, I learn a little something that can always help," said Clark, opining on the cross-over benefits that she enjoys when she competes in flag football. "And just keeping active helps."
One of the challenges that coach Patrie must face is that virtually all of the top end recruits coming out of the high-school ranks are typically lined up in the backfield with their respective teams currently - which is part of the reason that Clark will make the move to wide receiver come September.
"It will be different because I played running back during the season - but I'm very excited," she said. "I love catching the ball, so this is a perfect position for me."
As for the challenges, it's far more mental than physical.
"Definitely learning to run the routes, memorizing all of the different routes," added Clark. "There's more strategy to wide receiver than running back."
Either way, Patrie is expecting his entire trio of recruits to make an immediate impact.
"The coaching staff is thrilled with the program's inaugural recruiting class," he stated. "Sierra, Kelly and Maija are all game-breaking talents who we hope can step in right away and be big time contributors to the team."
In fact, Patrie is convinced that building from a core of local talent is not a disadvantage in the least in Sudbury.
"This city has become a major hot-bed for flag football in recent years," he suggested. "Over 500 athletes participated in SDSSAA (flag football) competition last fall between the junior and senior divisions."
"The talent level in this city is up there with any other region in the province," Patrie continued. "We are hoping that our flag football program at Laurentian can be a destination for a lot of local athletes who are looking to continue their competitive athletic careers while pursuing post-secondary options."
