BONNYVILLE - It was a season of growth for all of the Bonnyville Voyageurs, said head coach Larry Godziuk, at the year-end awards banquet held on Dec. 11.
With a season record of one win and four losses, the Voyageurs surpassed their 2021 season, having won a hard fought battle against the Wainwright Commandos.
The 31 players on the Voyageurs team were dedicated throughout the season despite a handful of injuries and coming up against strong teams with deep rosters in the Wheatland Football League.
In between award presentations, Godziuk reminded players that the team's success was not measured by the number of games won or lost - although he does like to win - but by the number of youth participating in group sports.
He noted that youth participation in sports is declining across the province and Canada at increasingly fast rates. Referencing studies on the phenomenon, Godziuk said one factor that has been found to have a detrimental effect on youths' involvement is sports relates to a highly competitive nature placed on minor sports by parents and other adults.
Godziuk encouraged parents and players to look at the social aspects and benefits of youth sports that help to build character, collaboration and life-long memories. He also challenged the current Voyageurs to help recruit new players for next season, and to be ambassadors for Bonnyville Amateur Football.
A special thank you was given to the team's six volunteer assistant coaches who dedicated between eight to 10 hours every week for the duration of the 2022 football season.
