Three former Mustangs move on to the CJFL

Carrah Walter - Three Pincher Creek Mustangs football players had the biggest day of their young lives on June 1st. They officially signed with the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). When a player signs, he is essentially signing for his entire junior football career as the player then becomes the property of that team.

Lineman Jaeger Hann signed with the Vancouver Island Raiders in the British Columbia Football Conference, while Receiver Liam VanEe and Quarterback, Beau Walter signed in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference with the Calgary Colts.

Mustangs participate in SAMFA All-Star Weekend

Mustangs #30 JP Mosby, #82 Jaxon Hammond, #21 Tanner Wallace, #36 Justin Schoening, #66 Justin Nelson
(Kelly Nelson photos)

Jeremy and Kelly Nelson - Five members of the Pincher Creek Mustangs Football bantam team were in Lethbridge May 4 and 5 for the Southern Alberta Minor Football Association’s (SAMFA) All-Star weekend. The weekend included the SAMFA awards banquet on Friday night, as well as the All-Star game on Saturday afternoon.

A building year for Pincher Creek's Mustangs

Chris Davis - Numbers are a factor almost every year for local sports teams, and "Pincher Creek Mustangs" has become synonymous with "fortitude and perseverance".  The same can be said of the support and coaching staff: every year a small group makes it happen, from Mustangs maven and President Faith Zachar (23 years and counting! to every volunteer flipping hot dogs and hamburgers.  The former players who come back to coach make a huge difference.  It's also a natural evolution, going from child to adult as members of the football family and sharing the on and off the field skills they've learned along the way.  Coaching is an almost year-round endeavour for those who step up into the role.

2017 Senior Mustangs Awards

Chris Davis - Pincher Creek's Mustangs Football Banquet and Awards were held on Friday November 10 at the Matthew Halton High School's Hawk's Nest.

2017 Bantam Mustangs Awards

2017 senior Bantam Mustangs (Kelly Kinnell Nelson photo)

Chris Davis - Pincher Creek's Mustangs Football Banquet and Awards were held on Friday November 10 at the Matthew Halton High School's Hawk's Nest.

2017 PeeWee Mustangs Awards

2017 PeeWee Mustangs

Pincher Creek's Mustangs Football Banquet and Awards were held on Friday November 10 at the Matthew Halton High School's Hawk's Nest.

Mustangs athletes prepare for upcoming ABC Bowl

Coach Jeremy Nelson - When you think of springtime sports in Pincher Creek you might think of baseball, soccer, rugby or even softball. Not for a select group, spring sports means football, football, football. Yes you read that right football.  A handful of Mustang football players are soon to be reading playbooks, learning the new plays, hitting the gridiron and practicing all weekend. Not only that, but some local coaches will be right there beside them.

Mustangs well represented at Alberta's ABC Border Bowl victory

Former Mustangs at the 2016 ABC Border Bowl:

Austin Bruder, Thane Buckingham, Riley Sokownin

(Kim Buckingham photos)

Originally published January 18, 2017.  Updated with Riley Sokownin interview.

Chris Davis - Way back on December 10 Alberta won the annual 2016 ABC Border Bowl Current Stars Game at Chilliwack BC's Exhibition Park, an event that organizers now refer to as  the "2016 ABC Snow Bowl".  The game featured athletes in grades 11 and 12 from Alberta and British Columbia.  The two teams played in a foot and a half to two feet of snow, with the snow still falling.  Alberta won 8-6.  Three young men familiar to Pincher Creek Mustangs fans were on the Alberta team: Austin Bruder (Left Tackle Offence, Pincher Creek Mustangs). Riley Sokownin (QB Lethbridge's Winston Churchill Bulldogs), and Thane Buckingham (Strong Side Linebacker, Taber's WR Rebels).  All three began their football careers as Pincher Creek Mustangs.  Also in attendance was Dennis Sokownin, who coached all three nine years ago.

Mustangs hold 2016 awards banquet

2016 Pincher Creek Mustangs

Christian Davis - Pincher Creek's Mustangs Football organization held their year-end awards banquet on Saturday evening November 5 at Matthew Halton High School.  After an amazing potluck dinner Mustangs President Faith Zachar opened the 2016 awards ceremony, celebrating the players' achievements during the organization's 21st season.  Zachar began by giving roses to and acknowledging the efforts of to key organizers and administrators  Kim Lissel, Melissa Saulnier, Janelle Jorgensen, Erin VanEe. Colleen Hann, Kelly Nelson, and Michelle Duncan.

Mustangs Football to Sept. 19. 2016

Sr. Mustangs defeat McCoy to start season, watch alumni Delinte's Regina Rams

^ Pincher Creek Mustangs with former Mustang and present University of Regina Rams Defensive Back Cord Delinte (#31) at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat. The Mustangs watched the Rams in action against the University of Calgary Dinos before their own game.

Coach Wayne Alexander - The Pincher Creek Senior Mustangs started off their season in a positive fashion on August 26 at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat, by beating the hometown McCoy Colts 22-12. The Mustang offense rang up 363 yards in a balanced attack.

Mustangs do Pincher Creek proud at ABC Border Bowl and Bantam All-Star games

Pincher Creek Mustangs as Rising Selects representing Alberta at the ABC Border Bowl

Back row: Tryan Holloway, Tysen Teneyke, Conner Ney, Devon Clarke, Jaeger Hann

Front row: Coach Chris Ney, Nathan Baker (submitted photos)

Chris Ney - I was privileged to be selected as the Head Coach for the ABC Border Bowl Rising Selects team this year. This is a grade 9/10 team that was going to be playing the best that BC could throw at us. The team was made up of players from all over the province and it was exciting to see 6 of our local football boys on the team. Tysen Teneyke #69 played Defensive Tackle, Conner Ney #95 played running back, Nathan Baker #55 played middle linebacker, Tryan Holloway #85 played defensive end, Jaeger Hann #66 played center, Devon Clarke #13 played halfback.

Pincher Creek Mustangs, two Stampeders, and a Roughrider prepare for 2016 football season

Josh Davis

The Pincher Creek Mustangs' annual Stamps Camp turned into Stampeders/Roughrider Camp this year.  On May 6 and 7 twenty-seven young athletes got the chance to hone their footballs skills with three professional athletes: defensive lineman Quinn Smith and wide receiver Anthony Parker of the Calgary Stampeders, and running back Matt Walter of the Saskatchewan Roughriders (who is a former Stampeder). The weather at Matthew Halton Field was perfect for the occasion.  This training event has been going on for more than a decade, and according to Mustangs maven Faith Zachar, the turnout was typical of previous years, but with more seniors  than usual. These dedicated athletes continued practicing through their lunch breaks. The event included a number of athletes from Cardston, as well as from Crowsnest Pass and the Pincher Creek area.

Pincher Creek Mustangs hold 2015 Awards Ceremony

Mustangs past and present assemble behind Pincher Creek Football's leading lady Faith Zachar

Josh Davis

On Sunday November 8 the Pincher Creek Mustangs held their annual season end wrap-up party at the Foothills Community Church. There was a potluck banquet for those in attendance. Senior Mustangs Offensive Coach Dan Crawford was master of ceremonies, and Bantam Mustangs Head Coach Chris Ney organized the use of the building. Following the meal, the Mustangs coaches bestowed awards to Mustang players at each level. Over 100 people were in attendance.

Mustangs thank Faith Zachar for 20 years of Pincher Creek football

Josh Davis

Following Pincher Creek Mustangs awards ceremony at the conclusion of their wrap up party on Sunday November 8, coach Dan Crawford took to the stage and delivered a tribute to Mustangs leading lady Faith Zachar.  The Mustangs completed their 20th season this year, and Zachar has been at the head of the organization the whole time.

Following Crawford's speech. excerpted below, former and current Mustangs presented Zachar with gifts and 20 yellow roses, one for each year of Pincher Creek Mustangs Football.  The respect, admiration, and genuine and deep affection that generations of Mustangs have for Faith was very evident.

Season ends for Senior Mustangs

Flag bearer at Mustangs vs Cobras game in Claresholm
B. Hale photos/vid

• The 2015/16 season ended November 6 for Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs with an away loss to Claresholm's Cobras.

Brandy Hale

Loading up the Pincher Creek Senior Mustangs equipment trailer, getting ready to head to Claresholm on Friday November 6, the mood was high. We had group of excited and confident young men ready to take the win and the Zones banner home. It was cold and windy but they weren't going to let that stop them. They hit the field full of enthusiasm. The crowd that traveled all the way there to cheer on their boys were ready for them to bring the win. 

Mustangs former head coach/fan Dennis Sokownin had this to say:

Bantam Mustangs host Carston Cougars

Bantam Mustangs on a lit-up Matthew Halton field
Evan Malhi photos

Evan Malhi, contributor

The Bantam Mustangs took to Halton Field on Monday November 2, 2015, facing Cardston's Cougars. The Cougars won 44-14. Cougar #35 had 3 touchdowns, #60 had 1 touchdown and #36 had 1 touchdown. Mustang Hunter Ostring made one touchdown, and #16 Conner Ney made an amazing 72 yard run right into the end zone, scoring the final touchdown of the game.

Senior Mustangs defeat Rebels in come from behind nail biter

2015 Pincher Creek Senior Mustangs in Lethbridge

Chris Davis

Do-or-die season is underway for high school football in Alberta.  Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs stepped a game closer to the big one with an October 20 win as the host team at the lovely Lethbridge University Community Stadium (LUCS) over Taber's W.R. Meyers Rebels.  After a shaky first half for the Mustangs, the game came down to the final seconds as the Mustangs defended their five-yard line against the Rebels on a first down, with the Rebels needing a single touchdown to overcome the Mustangs' five point lead. Three plays later the Mustangs emerged victorious, defeating the Rebels 35-29.  The Mustangs brought a crowd and were treated like conquering heroes as they left the field. It was a better showing for the Rebels than their game against the Mustangs at Matthew Halton Field on September 25, which ended in a 20-7 win for the Pincher Creek team.

Mustangs mascot in Lethbridge
Brandy Hale photo

Bantam Mustangs host McCoy Colts

Colt Haedyn Davies with the ball
Evan Mahli photo

Josh Davis

On Saturday October 17 the Bantam Mustangs took to the field against the McCoy Colts. This is a learning season for the Bantam Mustangs, whose team roster is largely composed on fresh players building experience. The Mustangs faced a wide margin loss against the Colts, but showed drastic improvement throughout the game, and made the end zone twice.

Major road trip for Peewee Mustangs

Peewee Mustangs at McMahon Stadium
Kelly Nelson photos

• Last Peewee Mustang game of the season is Thursday October 22 starting at 6:00 pm at Matthew Halton Field

At McMahon vs Claresholm

Coach Jeremy Nelson

I think we are better then any CFL team.

What you might say, well let me explain a little. We played three games in seven days. That’s right three games in seven days. I have never heard a CFL team do that. That's why I think we are better then any CFL team. We traveled to Coaldale, Calgary, and Lethbridge.