Ericson, Smith commit to Kamloops football

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This article was published 08/01/2025 (253 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cole Ericson has made some big moves, taking each one in stride.

Defence to offence. Centre to left guard, then right guard.

But Brandon to Kamloops, B.C.?

“I’m nervous. I’m not going to lie to you,” said the Vincent Massey Vikings offensive lineman, who is joining the Canadian Junior Football League’s Kamloops Broncos for the 2025 season.

“It was a huge decision coming up and it was between a couple of teams. At the end of the day, the coaches just sold it to me and I couldn’t say no to them … They checked on me more than any of the other ones. They were there through the whole season, not just at the end.

“The program is on the come up, beautiful city, great guys, I couldn’t turn them down.”

The six-foot-two, 292-pound guard grew to love a physical brand of football. He was part of a special season in 2024 as he helped running back Brayden Smith eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in seven Winnipeg High School Football League regular-season games.

While he’s expanding his comfort zone with a massive move, he finds relief in two things: The Broncos are a run-heavy offence and Smith is coming with him.

The five-foot-11, 200-pound back also committed this week. That made his decision to play for Kamloops over Langford’s Westshore Rebels and Chilliwack’s Valley Huskers easier.

“Knowing my running back’s coming with me and I know his play style was a huge relief,” Ericson said.

“I didn’t really fall in love with football until 2019 but he got me in the gym after Grade 9 and that’s when my potential started to show. He was a big help with that and with my injuries. In Grade 10 he was there with me the whole way and in Grade 11 when I hurt my ankle, he was the first one to check on me, first one to be there.

“He’s been with me through everything.”

Ericson started playing in the Westman Youth Football Association in 2019, then joined the Manitoba Selects that winter.

He lost his Grade 8 season to the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to play all four years of high school.

He started as a defensive tackle in Grade 9, then switched to centre and cracked the varsity starting lineup as a sophomore. The season was going well until he suffered a strange back injury against the Portage Trojans when he fell backwards and landed on another player’s helmet, taking him out of the game and more or less the rest of the season.

The following season, he strained tendons in his ankle one game and missed a full week of practice but toughed out the following week’s game. Last year, he didn’t miss one as the Vikings finished in ninth place and claimed the Vidruk Bowl for the third straight year.

Having played at least a few reps at all five spots on the line, he feels ready for whatever the Broncos’ coaching staff throws his way.

“I’m more versatile, I can understand what the positions next to me need to do, I can probably even help the guy across from me in practice if he really needs it,” Ericson said.

“They all come together at the end of the day but each has their own responsibility. You can’t do one without the other. On the other side of the field, if you mess something up you have a second chance, on O-line, you don’t. You’ve got to stop the guy in front of you on the first try. If all five guys can do that, you’ll have a great-looking team.”

Ericson blossomed a little later in his career with a great mentor and classmate in Smith.

The tailback was ahead of the curve in the weight room and it showed on the field. He started in the backfield alongside quarterback Justin Sharp as a sophomore when Massey went unbeaten in the WHSFL’s Division 2 and beat the Sturgeon Heights Huskies in double overtime for the title.

He’s been dreaming of higher levels of football since then, getting every rep he can from high school to Team Manitoba.

“Ever since Day 1 in Grade 9, you see Justin and all of them getting the opportunity to play football later. You come out, you’re nervous, you don’t know what it’s going to be like, then you start hanging out with them and grow a love for the sport more and more,” Smith said.

“Now I’m at the point where I want to go for as long as I can playing this sport. I’m unbelievably excited to go out there.”

Kamloops offensive co-ordinator Ethan Diakow was a big reason he chose the program. The former Oak Park Raiders quarterback and University of Manitoba Bisons receiver coached Smith with the provincial team and they worked well together.

It certainly helped having Ericson jump on board as well.

“Me and Cole, since Day 1, we’ve been best friends. Knowing I get to continue playing football with him, it’s amazing. I’m so excited for it,” Smith said. “He’s not the tallest guy but he’s working hard always. He’s in the gym almost more than I am. He’s really dedicated to this.

“Grade 9, you could see he was just playing it but it’s great to see how much more serious he’s become.”

While both Vikings wanted a change of scenery — they’ve possibly hit their quota for snow and sub-zero games — they couldn’t be more grateful for the lessons learned at Doug Steeves Field and the staff who built them into the people they are now.

“I’d like to thank (head coach Mike) Steeves and all the coaching staff for the opportunities they’ve given me,” Ericson said. “I couldn’t have done this without them.”

“I just want to thank everybody I’ve played with and especially (Kevin) Grindey teaching me … developing you into a better human being, more than the football aspect of it,” Smith added. “(Offensive co-ordinator Brady) Dane for giving me that chance in Grade 10 when all they wanted to put me as was a linebacker.

“Defensive coaches, Adam (McClelland), all them for the defence giving me little knocks in practice … making sure I’m staying humble.”

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