Players eager to try out new multi-sport turf field in Cornwall
Members of the Cornwall Timberwolves football club can barely contain their excitement about the new artificial turf field that's opening at the end of the month.
The football field at the Terry Fox Sports Complex now has brand-new turf that extends all the way into the end zones. The yardage markers are finished and the blue end zones have 'Cornwall PEI' prominently written on them in white. The city added a new scoreboard earlier this year.
Players like Brynley Letner believe the new field is going to help them take their game to the next level. She plays multiple positions for the Timberwolves' U-14 squad.
"I'm so excited," she said.
"I like playing the games there because it's always nice to have home field, and then on the new field I would get to show it off to everyone. It just makes it 10 times better."
'We want people from the town to know that Friday means Friday night lights and means Cornwall Timberwolves football,' said Rob Dennis. (Ken Linton/CBC)
The field is expected to be finished by Aug. 30, a week later than hoped due to some rainy weather.
The delay hasn't dampened the spirits of the general manager of the Timberwolves. Rob Dennis said it will be a privilege to play on the new field.
"It's going to be the premier facility in P.E.I., of course, but even beyond for football. We are very lucky to play home games here and our team gets to practise on the turf," he said.
Brynley Letner plays multiple positions on the Cornwall Timberwolves U-14 team. (Ken Linton/CBC)
The Timberwolves have big plans for their Friday-night home games this season, with school bands, food trucks and a PA announcer.
"We want this to be an embedded community event," said Dennis. "We want people from the town to know that Friday means Friday night lights and means Cornwall Timberwolves football."
'We just know there's big interest and part of our job as Football P.E.I. is to grow the sport,' said Football P.E.I. president Steve Letner. (Ken Linton/CBC)
Steve Letner, the president of Football P.E.I., said the field gets a ton of use, and he expects the field to be completely booked every night. In addition to football, there will be rugby, field hockey, disc golf and cricket.
"Everybody uses it, which is going to be amazing," he said. "Everyone's going to be fighting to get on the turf for sure. It's going to be awesome."
New opportunity for young female players
The field will also be home to the Island's first ever women's tackle-football team.
Work on the field is expected to be complete by Aug. 30. (Ken Linton/CBC)
The U-18 Cornwall Timberwolves varsity girls team will compete in a New Brunswick league starting next fall. Letner said the plan is to host training camps and practices starting this September, leading up to the first official games next year.
Players from all over the Island are eligible.
"We just know there's big interest and part of our job as Football P.E.I. is to grow the sport," he said. "This is one [way] to grow the sport because it's really blowing up. So we just want to be a part of it."
The field is prominently marked 'Cornwall, P.E.I.' (Matt Levy)
The new team can pave the way for girls to play at higher levels, Letner said, and help younger athletes like his own daughter Brynley play the sport they love. She said her friends are as pumped to play as she is.
"I have one friend that's so excited," she said.
"I told her we're going to have a girls' league and she was like, 'Really? OK, I have to join now.'"
