ESTEVAN - TJ Thompson of Estevan had a great football learning experience, as he attended the top-50 junior varsity football prospects camp for Western Canada in Richmond, B.C., from March 15-17.
TJ was selected for the gathering after he attended the Canada Football Chat (CFC) Fox 40 Prospect Challenge in Moose Jaw earlier this year. While in Moose Jaw, he participated in a combine, drills, plays and a scrimmage. He was the youngest player present, as he is a 12-year-old in Grade 7, and the camp was for Grade 8-12 students.
In an email to the Mercury and Â鶹ÊÓƵ, his mother Kathy said TJ wanted to attend just for the experience and went in without any expectations.
"After the tryout camp in Moose Jaw, TJ was selected as one of the top 50 junior varsity football prospects in Western Canada," wrote Kathy. "The CFC held tryouts for months at various locations in Western Canada, including Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary and Surrey, to name a few."
The 50 players in the junior varsity age group were supposed to be 13-15 years old, and they were split up in to two teams of 25. The weekend opened on March 15 with registration, jersey handouts, weigh-ins, the chance to meet other players and coaches, and a no-equipment practice.
A full day of practices and a combine occurred on the second day. Team Black defeated Team White in an intersquad game to wrap up the camp.
"It is really about the opportunity to showcase your skills and talent to scouts and coaches," Kathy wrote. "Although TJ was the youngest and smallest player, he saw lots of playing time in the game while playing both sides of the ball, as a running back and a cornerback. While playing defence he got the only interception of the game.
"The coaches were very impressed with his passion and determination, and were shocked to find out he was only in Grade 7, as he was not intimidated by these much bigger and older players. He definitely earned the respect of teammates and coaches. He took some hard hits and tackles but bounced up every time, ready to go."
She said the coaches were extremely knowledgeable and encouraging, and TJ learned a lot from the coaches and older players in a short period of time.
TJ has been playing football locally with Brandt Truck & Trailer Estevan Minor Football since he was seven. He has won several local MVP awards over the years, and was part of the Estevan U12 Chargers team that won the Moose Jaw Minor Football League championship in 2021. He won the league's U12 Offensive MVP Award in 2022.
He has also played with the Sask. Selects at the Pigskin Classic in Texas.
He has also been training in the offseason with Wolverine Football Training in Regina to enhance his skills.
