REDVERS — Redvers' Spencer Hill, who plays for the Moosomin Generals football program, has signed with the Winnipeg Rifles for the 2025-26 season.
Hill has been playing football since Grade 8, and started by playing flag football with the Generals' program on weekends.
“I like the comradery of it. I enjoy bonding with (my) teammates and getting to play the game I love. You can (also) hit people and not get in trouble for it,” said Hill cheekily.
In Grade 9 Hill played cornerback for the team and led the Rural Manitoba Football League in tackles being named rookie of the year. Since then, Hill mostly played defensive back.
It has been a lot of work on Hill’s part to make it to this point. Hill drove to Moosomin to play with the Moosomin Generals and to Moose Jaw to play with the Selects during the winter and with their travelling team.
Although Hill is sad to leave his current teammates, he is looking forward to this next adventure.
“This year has been nice. It’s sad because you have to leave your high school teammates but it’s nice because you also get to meet a new branch of teammates through post-secondary. You get to meet so many new people,” said Hill.
“You learn to love the game so much more because there are so many people involved and you learn to appreciate everyone playing with you,” continued Hill.”
Hill has always wanted to play for the Rifles if given the chance.
“I went out to their training camp. I must have impressed the coaches. I enjoyed the teammates and loved the coaches. It’s some of the best coaching I have had in years. I ended up fitting in with the entire program,” said Hill.
Being close to home and knowing people who previously played for the Rifles helped with his decision.
“I knew a lot of the guys,” said Hill. “I played against them in high school.”
At the end of May, the Winnipeg Rifles confirmed they wanted to formally sign him. He signed his contract at the beginning of June.
“I knew this was a great experience and that I had to prepare to play for them,” said Hill. “I can hopefully develop through their program with their coaches. I look forward to playing with them and improving myself as a player and person.”
Hill will be a wide receiver with the Rifles and is looking forward to trying a new position.
“In Grade 9, I had aspirations to play receiver but they moved me to DB in Moosomin, so I was playing (that position) until Grade 12,” said Hill. “This year the Rifles moved me to wide receiver, and I thought I’d like to try it.
“I have skills that a receiver might need but I thought it’s something to work on and a way I can improve myself and my skills in the game,” continued Hill.
This is not a scholarship to the University of Manitoba, where Hill hopes to study in the health science program but a year-to-year contract with the Rifles.
“I am going to see how it goes,” said Hill. ‘I hope to meet new people and have some new experiences.”
Hill is excited for this opportunity but credits his previous football experience for this chance.
“The last four years with the Generals and the Selects program has helped me improve myself as a player,” said Hill. “That helped me with the Winnipeg Rifles."
