With our league not being very well-known I had to do a lot of stuff on my own... like sending out my highlight videos and getting people to find out who I am...”
— Zack Kais, Winnipeg Rifle prospect
YRHS star running back Zack Kais is one step closer to playing football next season after officially committing to the Canadian Junior Football League’s (CJFL) Winnipeg Rifles for the 2015 training camp and preseason despite also being invited to the Saskatoon Hilltops camp.
“I met up with the Hilltops and they were interested in me,” offered Kais. “But I also met up with the Bisons (University of Manitoba) and the Rifles and decided that Winnipeg was a good fit for me.
“I have family in Winnipeg, I like the city, it’s well known for me and they seem to have a pretty good program that I’d like to be a part of.”
Another reason Kais says he opted to go across the border and into Bomberville is one that has to do with his future and eventually, hopefully, playing CIS football with yet another Manitoba-based club. “I’d kind of like to play CIS football with Manitoba, but first it’s always good to get that experience in Junior football,” said Kais, adding that he already has a bit of an advantage in that Bisons’ head coach Brian Dobie has connections with the YRHS football program. “Brian Dobie knows who I am.
Coach Sharpe (Roby Sharpe) and I have talked to him and he comes out to Yorkton sometimes to see us play because Dobie coached Sharpe at the U of M.”
But Kais, who graduates this June, has not yet officially made the Rifles’ roster; just the camp. “Nothing is official for the season, but I was invited to their summer camp,” mentioned the talented running back, adding that he’ll have to really prove himself during the camp should he want to remain with the team at the end of the camp. “They have about four veterans at running back so that’s some decent depth but there is always room for more if the person is good enough.”
Kais, who last season broke the Moose Jaw High School Football League (MJHSFL) all-time rushing record previously held by Riverview’s Shawn Ashmeade (1983-85) with 2,585 yards over three seasons, really is good enough to make the Rifles out of camp.
However he feels that playing in the MJHSFL – a not very well recognized league outside of Saskatchewan – was one of the main reasons he didn’t receive more offers, despite his own efforts in trying to get his name out there. “With our league not being very well-known I had to do a lot of stuff on my own,” mentioned Kais, continuing, “like sending out my highlight videos and getting people to find out who I am and getting them to talk to my coaches and everything.
“It wasn’t always easy but it was worth it because I knew it was going to work and get me a step closer to playing after high school.”
Now Kais is at that next step, poised to make the Winnipeg Rifles out of camp and assert himself as one of the top football players in the Western provinces.
All he has to do is take that step, and judging by what he’s done over the past few seasons, once he takes that step he’ll break through for a big gain.
