There’s a fresh energy around the Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) football program this fall as the Mohawks prepare to launch into their 2025 campaign on Thursday.
With a younger roster and a competitive mindset already in place, Head Coach Eric Anderson is confident his team is ready to make some noise this season.
“This is the best attendance we’ve had at practice in a while,” said Anderson. “Everyone’s been showing up. No one’s missing. That’s a great sign early on.”
Much of the buzz comes from a surge in new players, including an impressive 24 Grade 9 athletes who joined the team this year, joining an already young group.
“They’re athletic and they’ve been putting in the work,” Anderson said. “You can tell which guys were training over the summer."
The league itself has seen changes this year. With Meadow Lake entering the mix as a fifth team, the scheduling needed to be adjusted. HCI will start the year with three home games, followed by a bye week and two on the road — a layout that’s less than ideal, but necessary.
“We had to make it work. You can’t run a home-and-home in a five-team league in a short football season,” Anderson explained. “We’ve got the bye week out of the deal this year."
The Mohawks will host Meadow Lake in their lone encounter in 2025. They will travel to Meadow Lake in 2026.
Opening with three games at Glenn Hall Park is something the Mohawks welcome.
“There’s always an advantage to playing at home,” Anderson said. “Especially here. It matters.”
One of those home games includes the team’s annual night game, a Friday night tradition set for next week at 7:30 p.m., against Delisle — a highlight on the Mohawks’ calendar.
Before that, the team’s season kicks off this Thursday in Humboldt, with a matchup against John Paul II from North Battleford. The forecast is calling for wind and rain — conditions that could influence both sides of the ball.
“The fact of the matter is, those 70K winds flip the field,” Anderson said. “You may see more ball on the ground than usual. We’ll see what (offensive coordinator) Coach Seipp has in store.”
Kickoff for Thursday's game is at 4:30