Sawyer Thiessen had his eyes opened last season playing U SPORTS football with the University of Manitoba Bisons.
As a second-string quarterback who started one game for the Bisons and played in one other, Thiessen saw firsthand what it’s like to play in a league known for developing future pros in the Canadian Football League.
“It was one of those things where everybody knows what they’re doing and everybody’s the best at what they do coming from high school,” said Thiessen, 21. “The game is faster and things are a bit more complex and if you follow your roles most likely you’re going to come out on top.
“My teammates there really helped me along and it was a really fun time and I look forward now to my journey in the B.C. junior league. I’ve heard a lot of good competition is coming out of here and I look forward to helping my team compete to win.”
Fast-forward to this year and Thiessen is set to begin his career in the B.C. Football Conference, playing for the Prince George Kodiaks.
This Saturday night the six-foot-three, 205-pound native of Mitchell, Man., will lead the Prince George Kodiaks into their third season when they host the Vancouver Island Raiders in their first-ever visit to Masich Place Stadium (6 p.m. start).
Thiessen came to Prince George for the Kodiaks’ spring camp in May and has already gotten to know his new teammates well, living in the city with his billet family since mid-June. He’s confident his team of 17-to-22-year-olds will endear itself to Kodiaks fans as a cohesive group that will challenge for a playoff spot in the seven-team B.C. Football Conference.
“This team has a lot going for them, they’ve got a lot of heart and they have good coaches behind them, coaching them up,” said Thiessen. “We have a core group that can really propel this team forward.
“It’s going to be pretty cool to see how we grow as a unit on offence and then to see the defence thrive under Coach (Jamie) Boreham,” he said. “Spring camp went smooth and got the units clicking and now, in training camp, we’re just correcting the little things. It’s about the details and we’re looking forward to showing what we’ve got on Saturday and impressing the fans.”
Thiessen started playing football at age 7 and went through the ranks in minor football with the Eastman Raiders, gravitating to the Winnipeg high school league with Steinbach Regional Secondary School. In his Grade 9 year the team moved up from double-A to triple-A and they took their lumps, but by his Grade 11 year the Sabres won the regular season title and were playoff semifinalists. His Grade 12 season (2021) was cancelled by the pandemic.
“We had a pretty good team over there,” he said.
Former Saskatchewan Roughriders fullback Chris Szarka is the Kodiaks' new offensive coordinator. Thiessen says it’s been fun learning Szarka’s playbook and trying to get on the same page.
“As a quarterback, he plays the game through me, and so if I understand what he wants from me and what he sees on a certain play then we’re going to do well as a unit, he and I,” said Thiessen.
Quarterbacks Sam Sabine (Calgary) and Quinn Neukomm (Duchess Park Secondary) will start the season as the backups to Thiessen. Six-foot-seven PG native Cayle Cowley and transplanted Brit Jordan Brady-Williams, who stands six-foot-three, are the twin towers at receiver. Carson Briere, a 21-year-old Duchess Park grad, is also having a good camp.
“We’ve got great hands, we’ve got some height and we’ve got some speed,” Thiessen said. “We’re going to get them the ball and they’re going to showcase the talent they have and I’m looking forward to witnessing that from behind the pocket.”
The Kodiaks' roster lists 91 players, 24 of whom are former Prince George high school players.
Boreham is in his second season as head coach and director of football operations and he says the team is much better organized and ready for football than last year’s team that went 2-8. He’s had a full off-season to put his stamp on the team and get to know his players and says the team on the field will be much improved as a result.
“We’re going to be faster, we’re going to be smarter and we’re going to be more aggressive, all good things that should result in some better football on the field,” said Boreham. “You’re going to see fast, you’re going to see physical and you’re going to see a defence getting on the football, causing turnovers and making problems for the other team. Hopefully that sets us up to win field position and put our offence into an advantage position that puts points on the board.
“It’s not a hope. We’re better than last year.”
Thiessen will be handing the ball to Gavin Halvorson (Sylvan Lake, Alta), a 20-year-old who was with the Okanagan Sun part of last season, and Weyburn, Sask., product Xander Shane.
Boreham says his ‘backs will benefit from a shored-up offensive line that struggled to find consistency last season.
“We have Connor Sherlock from last year, he’s authoritative, a pretty solid leader,” said Boreham.
Returning Kodiaks safety Colter Cannon (Airdrie, Alta) missed the first week of practice but he’s healthy again and has emerged as a captain on defence. Yorkton, Sask., recruit Aidan Leslie is another one to watch at defensive back.
On the defensive line, Jason Kragt (Hixon, PGSS) has a better understanding of the game, according to Boreham, and it shows in his anticipation and how he reacts to the snap, while defensive lineman J.J. Aboagye, a six-foot-three, 265-pound native of London, England, brings intensity and BCFC experience from the Westshore Rebels. The Kodiaks lacked a sack attack last year and that cost them a few games but they have since addressed their deficiencies.
“We were brutal,” was Boreham’s blunt assessment. “We’re creating more havoc, for sure, but we’re also being more sound. We’re faster. J.J. and Kragt, those two guys can move, so they’re going to hunt down a quarterback.
“(Former College Heights linebacker) Nick Tremblay has taken some steps in leadership. He’s better at his job this year and he’s been a consistent piece of the puzzle so far. Practice is getting testy a little bit and that’s nice. We’re practising to the pace to have these guys ornery and wanting to take something out on somebody else.”
The Raiders, who went 0-10 last year, have hired Andrew Harris, a four-time Grey Cup-champion running back, as head coach and director of football operations. Harris, a five-time CFL all-star, played 14 years in the CFL after leading the Raiders to junior national titles is 2006, 2008 and 2009.
