The New Westminster Hyacks kicked off their season with a trip-of-a-lifetime – but that’s just part of the team’s plans for the 2024 season.
The team prepared for the 2024 season with a training camp at its Mercer Stadium home field – before jetting off to Atlanta, Georgia to continue its training camp and to play a game against Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Georgia. The Hyacks lost to the American team but have notched some wins since returning home.
“Since returning, we have won our last two games by a wide margin – 43-6 and 49-0,” said Andrew McKechnie, the team’s co-head coach. “Our defense has been playing very well and has not been scored against yet. Coach Chad Oatway, our defensive coordinator, has really been working hard to get out players ready for the upcoming regular season.”
The Hyacks will play Notre Dame Jugglers at Mercer Stadium on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. It is the Hyacks’ first-ever fundraiser for KidSport New West.
“KidSport has been great to our program, giving so many kids a chance to play where they may not have been able to without their help. We looked for a way to say ‘thank you’ and give them back to that great organization,” McKechnie said. “We saw that they were playing their KidSport Fall Classic on Sept. 21 so we thought that having our KidSport Night the night before, giving them partial proceeds and encouraging the whole Hyack nation to get out to the KidSport Fall Classic the next night would be a great way to say thanks.”
Next week, the Hyacks return to the Mercer Stadium field for the 2024 Homecoming game against Handsworth Royals. The game is on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. but pre-game fun includes a family fun zone (including bouncy castles), a visit from local firefighters, Applewood Auto Group cars (the Hyacks’ new title sponsor), and more.
McKechnie said this year’s Homecoming festivities include the BC Lions/Grey Cup Road Trip tuck and booth.
“This one is going to be huge, both in sheer size and in fun,” he said.
McKechnie said he may be biased, but he considers Homecoming to be the Number 1 sporting event in New West.
“Typically, the stands are full, there is the smell of popcorn and burgers cooking from our concession stand and there is so much community involvement with all the booths and fun,” he said. “And there is usually a good game to see after kickoff at 7:30.”
This week's BCSS football top 10. #RoadToProvincials @BCHSFB pic.twitter.com/yMKnd5r0by
— BC School Sports (@BCSchoolSports) September 10, 2024
McKechnie invites community members to attend the team’s home games at Mercer Stadium.
“Even our regular games will often have hundreds of fans, the same sounds and smells (who can resist a burger at a game?), and we do have a pretty good team this year showcasing our own unique brand of Hyack Football,” he said. “It’s a special environment that isn't replicated anywhere in B.C., watching high-level high school football under those Friday Night Lights in the fall.”
Having fans in the seats at Mercer Stadium benefits the players on the field, McKechnie added.
“It gives them an extra edge and can be intimidating for the opposing teams,” he said. “There is something special turning around and seeing hundreds of people cheering for you.”
McKechnie said that’s not something the Hyacks see when they attend games at other schools.
“There may be 25 to 50 family and friends there, but nowhere near the scale that we see at Mercer on a Friday night,” he said. “That is one of the magical things we love about playing in New Westminster at NWSS. Its such a close and wonderful community.”
Admission to Hyacks varsity games is $7 for adults and $2 for students (free for kids), but it is $10 for adults and $3 for students for the Sept. 20 KidSport night. The gate accepts cash and tap.
BC bound?
After months of planning and preparations, the Hyacks headed to Georgia for an Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 for a “fantastic trip” that included football and some off-the-field education.
“The players had an amazing time and got introduced to a very high level of football. There were life lessons too with our visit to the civil rights museum and the Ebenezer (MLK) church. It seemed that there was some somber thought amongst the group after going to the two sites,” McKechnie said. “As a couple of our players mentioned ‘it's one thing to read it in a textbook but another thing to see in person.’”
The New West delegation also attended a major college football game in Auburn, Alabama. There they enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience that included a private tour, luncheon, and pre-game field access courtesy of the college’s football program.
McKechnie said the Hyacks lost 42-6 to “a very good team in Mary Persons High School”, who were great hosts and gave their visitors from New West an experience they will never forget.
“The whole town of Forsyth welcomed us with such open arms,” he said. “They are an amazing group of people.”
McKechnie said the Hyacks “were a bit of a novelty” for the people of Atlanta. (That is where the team stayed and practised.)
“They were a little surprised that Canadians played football,” he said. “We made a few newscasts, radio shows, newspaper articles and podcasts. The theme quickly became: ‘We came to learn about life and football, but also we got a crash course in Southern hospitality!’"
The Hyacks would love to have an opportunity to return the favour and show their American friends some New Westminster hospitality.
“There is even quiet talk and whispers about Mary Persons travelling to us next year,” McKechnie said. “Nothing is confirmed, and we are just scratching the surface here, but they seem very excited at the thought.”
