The 2 Edmonton clubs meet up for the second and final time in 2011.... read more ..

June 1, 2008

........................ ..Huskies Rebuilding
........................................................by JASON HILLS, SUN MEDIA

Dalton Smarsh couldn't care less about what happened the past two years with the Edmonton Huskies, but he realizes that the next two years could be pivotal for the Huskies organization.

The new head coach is looking to build a new attitude after going through two tough seasons on the heels of back-to-back national championships.

"We are recruiting any kid that wants to play for the Edmonton Huskies and we've put a huge emphasis on that this year," Smarsh said yesterday as the Huskies went through their second day of spring camp.

"We all dream of winning a national championship, but the reality is if we don't do a good job of recruiting this year and next year, and even harder the year after, we won't get back to where we were a few years ago.

"Ultimately we believe we will be a Canadian champion again ... it will just take time."

The Huskies have just 20 returnees coming back for the 2008 season, and with over 100 other spring camp invites, this is one of the biggest spring camps the Huskies have held in recent years.

"We are going to have a lot of rookies on this team and this year more than ever we are going to have to rely on our veteran players for leadership," said Smarsh, who coached East Glen high school the past seven years.

One of those veterans is linebacker Korey Johnson, who is returning for his third year with the Huskies.

"There are so many new faces, but there is a lot of young talent that we can build around," said Johnson.

There aren't just a lot of new faces on the field, Smarsh has brought in an entirely new coaching staff from the previous year, so the Huskies will have to get used to a new system led by Smarsh.

After former head coach Beau Mireau was let go after a disappointing 3-5 season, many veterans were upset.

But Smarsh has made it known, right from the opening huddle of spring camp, that this is his team now.

"A lot of guys were sulking about it, but you have got to remember that you have to come back for all the players on this team," said Johnson.

"Once they realized what our new coaching staff is all about, the guys wanted to come back.

"These guys have a lot of experience and they can teach a lot of stuff we haven't learned."

Smarsh believes his linebacking core will be the team's biggest strength.

That's the area where the Huskies can draw the most experience.

"Offensively, we are going to have a lot of changes, not necessarily structure-wise, but I think early on in the season, our defence will be able to keep us in games, while our offence gets together," said Smarsh.

The Huskies biggest asset last year offensively was their receiving corps.

They have four returning in their receiving corps and they have some high end talent out of high school that includes standout receiver Eric Shuitt, who played last year for the Fort Saskatchewan Sting.

"I worked hard in the off season and I really want the chance to play junior," said Shuitt.

"We have a lot of talented receivers (on the team) and I just want to be able to find my spot on the team. It's been a big goal of mine to play football at the next level."

Ryan Meraw is in his final year with the Huskies. He has won one national title as part of the Huskies and has spent the past two years as one of the Huskies biggest threats in the receiving corps.

He knows that the Huskies are quite likely not considered a national championship contender this year with so many fresh faces and rookies that are wet behind the ears, but he poses it as a challenge to help set a structure for the Huskies in the future.

"There aren't many people out there that are giving us a chance and I have heard it all about how we are going to do this year, but I honestly think we'll surprise some people."

The Edmonton Huskies are very proud to have two more alumni join the ranks of the CFL as members of the Edmonton Eskimos football club.

Defensive linemen Justin Cooper and running back Chris Ciezki were both added to the Eskimos active roster following cut down day on Saturday afternoon. The two former dogs join ex-teammate defensive back J.R. Larose who has been with the Esks for the past two seasons.

Cooper was drafted by the Eskimos earlier this year out of the University of Manitoba where he added a 2007 Vanier Cup ring to his 2004 Canadian Bowl ring which he won during his time as an all-Canadian defensive end with the Dogs.

Ciezki played his CIS football at the University of British Columbia where he starred in their backfield for the past 4 seasons. As a member of the Huskies, Ciezki became the first player in CJFL history to rush for 3 consecutive 1000+ yard seasons from 2001-2003.