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 Football requests new field from the Town of Pincher Creek

Toni Lucas - Council for the Town of Pincher Creek heard from a Pincher Creek Mustangs Football delegation at their May 22 regular meeting.  Mustangs coach and organizer Jeremy Nelson said the Mustangs have been in town for over 20 years and would like a new football field.  "I say a facility, that we all can call home. Not just a football facility but a community facility.  Something that football,  soccer, and rugby could use." He explained each of these sports need a large field, and their seasons don't overlap very much.  The Mustangs currently play almost all of their games at the Matthew Halton High School field.  "Personally, I have heard our field referred to as a bone breaker," said Nelson.

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.

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.

Pee Wee Mustangs face Raiders, prepare for McMahon rematch

Pee Wee Mustangs vs Raiders
Kelly Nelson photos

Coach Jeremy Nelson

As I sit here watching a CFL game, I am reminded of McMahon Stadium. McMahon stadium is where the PeeWee Mustangs have played the Claresholm Raiders for many years past, and will be doing so again this Thanksgiving Monday.

My first experience with Claresholm was under the lights at McMahon Stadium. It was a really cool experience for the parents that had never been there and an awesome experience for the kids whom had never played under the lights before.

Mustang movie night a touchdown

Mustangs Food Bank Donations from the Team Building Outdoor Movie Night. Left to Right: Beau Walter, Dusty Hungry Wolf, Carrah Walter, Brody Walter, Hayden Many Grey Horses

submitted photo

Josh Davis

On Friday September 18 the Peewee Mustangs hosted a Team Building Outdoor Movie Night in the Matthew Halton field, where kids and members of the community were invited to watch When The Game Stands Tall. Food was collected for Pincher Creek's food bank at the event.

Peewee Mustangs host Lethbridge Bulldogs

Photos: J. Davis, C.Davis, Kelly Nelson

Coach Jeremy Nelson

Imagine this: It’s the second day of fall, 6:30 pm, the temperature is +23 degrees Celsius, there’s not a breath of wind, and the words "down, set, hut" echo in the air.

Well Mustang fans that was the scene on Thursday night here in Pincher Creek as we hosted the Lethbridge Bulldogs.

A week of growth for the Peewee Mustangs

Peewee Mustangs vs Cardston Cougars

Photos: T. Lucas, C. Walter, K. Nelson.  Vid: C. Davis

Coach Jeremy Nelson

Here comes another weekly report from the Pincher Creek Mustangs PeeWee stables.

After the game we had in Lethbridge on the 10th we needed to work on some offence and defence.

Football 101 with Coach Wayne Alexander

Wayne Alexander

Josh Davis

On Wednesday September 16 Pincher Creek Mustangs, Head Coach Wayne Alexander hosted Football 101 at the Pincher Creek & District Municipal Library. His goal was to educate parents and members of the press about the basics of football, including descriptions of equipment, an explanation on first downs and scoring, and a basic walk-through of the football field. Coach Alexander will also be hosting a more advanced course, scheduled for Tuesday, September 22*, at 6:30 pm at the library.

*Note new day.

Meet Mustangs Coach Alex Oliver

Alex Oliver

Josh Davis

Alex Oliver is the current coach for the Mustangs Linemen. He is a dedicated young man, coming to coach the Mustangs straight from his night job. Soft spoken, he is known for rarely speaking up in front of the group. His presence is felt through his one-on-one interactions instead, and his players speak fondly of him. He loves life as a coach, and has a good head for the game.

Senior Mustangs defeat Bobcats in Cochrane

2015 Senior Mustangs in Cochrane
J. Davis photos and video 

Josh Davis

On Friday September 11, the Pincher Creek Mustangs won their away exhibition game against the Cochrane Bobcats 34-19. The Mustangs started the game off incredibly strong, setting the pace with their kick-off team, completely walling the Bobcats offense with their defensive line, and scoring an early-game touchdown. They remained in the lead in the second quarter, but the Bobcats' offensive managed to make a touchdown by running the ball down the Mustangs' outside lane. The Mustangs ended the first half of the game in the lead 21-7. At the start of the second half the Mustangs suffered from a few minor penalties and misplays, and the ended the quarter still in the lead but by only two points, 21-19. However, the Mustangs pulled together and got their heads back in the game in the fourth quarter, and scored two more touchdowns for good measure to secure a decisive 34-19 win.

Canmore Wolverines defeat Senior Mustangs in exhibition game

Mustangs vs Wolverines
J. Davis and C. Davis photos

Josh Davis

On Thursday evening September 3, 2015, Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs hosted the Canmore Wolverines at Matthew Halton field for an exhibition game, playing strongly in the first three quarters, but ultimately losing to the Wolverines 13-28. The weather was partly cloudy at the 5:00 kickoff, a welcome shift from light showers experienced earlier in the day, and thankfully the field wasn’t slick. It was good weather for football.

J. Davis video

Senior Mustangs win two exhibition games at home

Chris Davis

Pincher Creek's Senior Mustangs hosted High River's Highwood Mustangs for a pre-season exhibition football game at Matthew Halton field on Friday afternoon August 28.  Pincher Creek rolled to an easy 52-0 win, their second exhibition win in a row to start their year after defeating Eagle Butte's McCoy Colts 18-7 last week.  Last year Pincher's Mustangs defeated the Colts 18-17 during an exhibition game in Medicine Hat.  Last year's away exhibition game against Highwood resulted in a 13-0 win for Pincher Creek.

Just a note here, the Bantam Mustangs could really use some more members.  There were only 9 of them at last count.  Talk to a coach or one of the many fine volunteer parents out there, they can guide you in the right direction.

Some video highlights of Pincher Creek vs Highwood

Football season begins in Pincher Creek

A favourable omen ushers in Senior Mustangs' 2015 season
Kim Lissel photos

• Schedules below

Chris Davis

The 2016 football season has commenced in Pincher Creek.  Players of all ages are taking to the field at practices this week, and the Senior Mustangs play their first game this coming Saturday, August 22, a home-field exhibition match against McCoy.  It's the first of three home exhibition games for the Mustangs, to be followed by two away exhibition games before the Southern Alberta High School Football League (SAHSFL) varsity season begins.

Kyle and Jeremiah at practice

Sign up:

The Pincher Creek and District Mustang Football Society invites players from grades 4-10 to register for football this fall.  Practices are underway now.  Skill is not a requirement, and all equipment is supplied free except for a pad girdle (for hygienic reasons) and shoes.  The cost is $250 a season, including busing for the Bantam team.  All our coaches are certified for football coaching and all equipment is inspected and certified by Football Alberta.  For more information contact Faith Zachar at 403-627-7751 or Dan Crawford at 403-627-7891.