Plainsmen open camp for 2026 season

The Crocus Plains football team opened camp ahead of the 2026 season on Monday with the ambition to continue improving while competing against some of the best teams in the area.

“We had a great offseason with our core, and some of the young guys that are coming in are excited to go, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said head coach Mason Kaluzniak.

Last year, the Plainsmen were elevated from the AAA division into the AAAA division. They had to feel their way through the unfamiliar territory while playing against tougher competition, and finished the 2025 season with a 3-6 record.

With a year of experience under their belt and continued development, Kaluzniak feels the team has a better chance of making noise this season.

“We’re deep at every position,” said Kaluzniak. “We’re more well-rounded to take on this level of competition. Where last year each day we were patching holes and trying guys at different positions … this year we can put guys in spots, they can learn that position, they can play that position and grow in that position.”

Consistency is one of the things that could help Crocus Plains this year. Kaluzniak is going into his fifth year as the head coach and his sixth year with the team. The returning players know his systems and he’s familiar with their skills.

During Kaluzniak’s time with the team he has focused on developing as many players as possible. That has led to a much deeper group this year than they have had in the past.

“We really try our best to keep every Grade 9 and Grade 10 at the JV level,” said Kaluzniak. “There’s tons of different reasons. Number one, is playing against kids their age and understanding, getting that belief that ‘OK, I can dominate. I can play hard. I can be a star in this league.’ I think that’s really important for kids.”

That said, every year a couple of players step up and prove they have what it takes to play for the varsity squad. This year is no different.

Sophomore Jake Cory is one of the names to watch this year. He played quarterback for the JV team last year and is expected to make the jump to the varsity squad this year.

Having a new face at such a pivotal position can make or break teams, and Cory’s play this season will determine a lot when it comes to the success of the Plainsmen. However, the team and the coaching staff have a lot of faith in their new quarterback.

“He’s someone who is big, he’s physical, he’s fast and he’s intelligent,” said Kaluzniak. “We feel like he’s in a position where he can go be our guy for three years, and we’re excited about that.”

Throughout the offseason, Cory has put in the work improving his throwing mechanics and working with offensive coordinator Bryce Keilback. He will get the opportunity to put his skills to the test when the regular season starts.

In some ways, Crocus Plains is in the perfect position to bring along a young quarterback. According to Kaluzniak, he feels the team’s offensive line will be one of the team’s strengths this season.

Led by offensive guard and nose tackle Kolby McKay, the offensive line might be one of the biggest in the province. At six-foot-four, McKay is a player who knows his role and takes pride in doing it well.

“Violent as a whole group is how we need to be,” said McKay. “We’re the most physical O-line in Manitoba.”

Going into his senior year, McKay is drawing attention from university programs, which is giving him an extra incentive to make his final season at Crocus Plains a memorable one.

“I’m looking at it like something to prove,” said McKay. “There’s a bit more pressure to perform at a higher standard.”

If McKay and his group give Cory time to find his options, the young quarterback will have a much easier time adjusting to the pace at the varsity level. Kaluniak also plans to help him out by leaning on the run game early in the season.

“We’ve got two good running backs, we’ve got a big O-line, and we have a young quarterback,” said Kaluzniak. “That kind of shows that we’re going to establish the run. We’re going to be tough to play against in the trenches … especially early in the season run the ball get confident in our system and see what we can build off that.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Crocus Plains looks to have a deep group of players, including safety Will Cantelo.

Going into his senior year, Cantelo is a tall, charismatic player who is a natural-born leader. For him, the year is all about improving the program and pushing this group to higher heights.

“I’m focused on team goals and building a culture that will last,” said Cantelo. “I know the seniors when I first came in, they did that. They laid the base, they laid a good structure and that’s my goal.”

Cantelo looks at playing defense as a very cerebral experience. Yes, it’s about hitting the opponent hard, but to do that, you need to understand the playbook and watch film. He’s confident that the defence will be able to give opponents trouble this year.

“We are heavy on the defensive side,” said Cantelo. “We bring an intensity and violence to the defensive side that not many teams can deal with.”

As a veteran on the team Cantelo wants to make sure that the younger and newer players know their roles and responsibilities. He remembers being a rookie and being too shy to speak up, and he wants to make sure none of his teammates feel that way.

“I love when they ask questions,” said Cantelo. “I’d rather teach you on the field than have you mess up in a game … everything happens faster when you ask questions. If you come up and ask me what to do, I will tell you, even if you’re not my position.”

The Plainsmen will play their first exhibition game Friday against the Elmwood Giants. Their season will get under way against the Grant Park Pirates on Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.

The team will look to improve on the 56-19 loss they endured at the hands of the Pirates in the only meeting between the two teams last year.

There is plenty of optimism around the Crocus Plains team and it’s not hard to see why. The pieces are in place for a strong season.

“For our guys, I’ve never shied away from competition. We always teach these guys and coach these guys to compete in every game, every situation,” said Kaluzniak. “If we can get out to a 1-0 start, we believe we can be a scary team in this league.”

»rmccarthy@brandonsun.com