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Touch football game raises $4,000 for Quesnel Youth Centre

The event included a raffle for a signed Carey Price jersey

For the first time in a long time, a pigskin flew across the sky in Quesnel in an organized game.

A touch football game in support of the Quesnel Youth Centre took place on Saturday, Aug. 15. The event included a raffle for Carey Price and Eric Lindros signed jerseys. Over $4,000 was raised to help the centre reopen.

All of the participants were members of a local flag football league which was forced to stop because of COVID-19.

“We decided, because there were too many touch points with flag, and there was going to be too much sanitation involved, we would just do touch,” organizer Angele Nutley said. “The players were wearing gloves, they were tagging their opponent, and everything was nice and clean.”

READ MORE: City of Quesnel plans staggered approach to reopening West Fraser Centre arenas

Nutley said plans for the game were given the all clear from Northern Health.

The game was played seven on seven, with a few subs for each side.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people showed up,” Nutley said. “Of the five days of summer we have had this is the best one we’ve had.”

This was the first football event in Quesnel since the pandemic began.

“This was supposed to be a full tournament, but because of the COVID-19 guidelines, we only had one game,” Nutley said.

The hot and sunny weather was a change of pace for teams used to the cool, wet summer of 2020.

READ MORE: CFL cancels 2020 season during pandemic, ends 100-plus year run for Grey Cup

“Every tournament we have ever had outdoors for football, it has rained,” Nutley said. “And the one time (it doesn’t) it’s only two teams.”

Football in Canada took a big hit on Aug. 17, as reports came in that the CFL season cancelled after failing to secure a loan from the federal government.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com

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