Amyotte takes leadership role
All of a sudden, Max Amyotte is the oldtimer on the Regina Thunder defensive line. He turns 20 in September. While not exactly old, the fact that Amyotte is in his third season with the Prairie Football Conference team makes him the most-senior member of the Thunder’s defensive front.
“I’ve taken more of a leadership role for sure and tried to stand out a bit more, help the guys out more in practice,” said Amyotte, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds. “I’ve always been pretty strong-willed and a loud voice on the team so it wasn’t that big of an adjustment for me.”
“He has matured a lot over the off-season and accepted that role that we talked about with him at the end of last year,” added defensive line coach Craig Hammond.
“With a lot of guys gone, he was going to have to step up and he has done that.”
Last season Amyotte and Logan Brooks split time at the rush end position while Jamie Lofthang occupied the other end spot and Mat Irvine and Steven Arens served as tackles.
Fast forward to 2009. Irvine and Lofthang have used up their junior football eligibility, Brooks has joined the University of Regina Rams and Arens is completing his contract with the Canadian Armed Forces reserves. All that leaves Amyotte to lead the revamped D-line into today’s exhibition game with the Winnipeg Rifles in Brandon.
“There’s was a little bit of that (worrying), but we had 15 guys in camp and some returnees who played a little bit last year so they’re ready to go full time,” Hammond said when asked about all the turnover.
The Thunder did receive some good news earlier this week when Arens, who is entering his fifth PFC season, informed the team he would be back for the last half of the regular season. His contract is up at the end of August and he may even be available for a home game before then.
“It’s better having half a season of Steve than no Steve at all,” said Amyotte.
Until then, it is up to Amyotte to lead the charge up front for the Thunder.
While Hammond had to give up a pair of tackles — Trevor King and Drew Barss — to a depleted offensive line, the coach expects the addition of Zach Evans from the Rams and the maturation of Matt Gosselin and Kurtis Millington will serve Regina well.
“It’s going to be a little bit tough for the first couple of games, but they’ll have to learn through trial by fire,” said Hammond.
RUMBLINGS: Quarterback Reid Quest is to start today’s exhibition contest. The thirdyear pivot had been battling tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, but hasn’t missed a beat in the last week of practice … After today’s game, the Thunder will take the rest of the weekend off before resuming practising on Tuesday in preparation for the season-opener on Aug. 9 against the host Edmonton Huskies.
