Raiders looking to attract talent

In a bid to ensure its Bantam program will have a team in 2026, the Chateauguay Raiders football association is doing the rounds for high school-aged player recruitment, including at Kahnawake Survival School (KSS).

“We’re trying to promote the importance of education when it comes to sports,” said Andrew Cormier, the Raiders’ technical director, who has spearheaded this recruitment effort was at KSS last week for the recruitment visit.

“I really wanted to promote the importance of physical athleticism and what the opportunity of playing a sport while going to school can bring. Some kids play sports to make it a career. Some kids play sports because of the scholarships and the opportunities they can get in regards to education while playing sports. So, I really just wanted to go there and explain to the kids what their opportunities can be.”

The future of the players who might go through the Raiders’ association is important to Cormier, but so is their present, both on and off the field. Football can give youth something to look forward to and somewhere worthwhile to spend their time, he said.

On the field, it’s the possibility to stay in football as one ages that matters.

Having to move to another team when there are no teams available in your existing association, often in a city further away, leads many to quit the sport instead, according to Cormier.

“We have a lot of kids from Peewee - the age group under Bantam - who, unfortunately, couldn’t stick with the program because we didn’t have the Bantam team. And it’s unfortunate, because you have such young, talented kids who are ready to go forth with their sports career, and they hit that wall,” said Cormier.

“At that age, it’s so competitive. Plus, you have kids who are 6’3 and then you still have kids who are 4’11. It’s such a hit for them to go into this new environment, under this new coaching staff, under this new program, and they’re already at a high level. It ruins a lot of kids.”

Signups and preseason camps continue for the Raiders, with all age groups accepting players for the 2026 season except for Midget, an age group the Raiders have not been able to launch for the last two years.

Registration must be done in person, and only on specific days, at Parc Joseph Laberge in Chateauguay, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

April 28 is registration for Atom (2017-2018 birth year) and Bantam (2011-2012); April 3 for Tykes (2019-2021), Peewee (2013-2014), and Bantam; May 5 for Mosquito (2015-2016) and Bantam; and May 7 for Atom, Peewee, and Bantam.

Registration fees break down as follows: $250 for Tykes, $350 for Atom and Mosquito, $375 for Peewee, and $200 for Bantam. Added to this is an extra fee of $115 for non-Chateauguay residents. All equipment is provided, except for cleats.

[email protected]