The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Holland College football programme has been a pipeline for many Bahamian student athletes and the team, along with its strong Bahamian contingent, begins their quest for a second consecutive Moosehead Cup.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to head to Maine this weekend to play NCAA Division III Maine Maritime Academy Mariners, in Castine, Maine, for the Kongsberg Cup, 12pm September 6.

The game will be streamed live on the website of the Mariners’ Athletic Department, found at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/mma/

It will be the first meeting between the two schools, however the Mariners have gone 5-2 against Canadian opponents, including the Mount Allison Mounties in past years.

The Kongsberg Cup will be awarded by Kongsberg Maritime company, an organisation that provides innovative and reliable solutions for merchant marine, offshore, subsea, navy, coastal marine, fisheries, simulation and training, port and harbour surveillance and more.

The Mariners are coming off a 1-8 overall record in 2013.

The Hurricanes captured the Moosehead Cup, given to the Atlantic Football League champions, with a 20-12 win over the St John Seawolves. They finished the season at 4-4-1 in 2013, winning two of their final three games.

The Hurricanes boasted 11 Bahamians on their roster in the 2013 season.

In February, the school’s athletic department hosted a series of combines with the aim of increasing that number for this season.

One of the players the Hurricanes will feature this season is former two-time Commonwealth American Football League MVP running back Jamal Storr.

“I am excited to join this programme and to keep the winning tradition going. They have a lot of great players here and the Bahamian guys have already set the tone the past few years so I just want to come in and help the team in any way I can,” Storr said.

“I am thankful for the opportunity and I plan to make the most of it to help the team get back to a championship level.”

Last year’s team featured Xavier Hanna, Dale Pickstock Jr, Arien McDonald, Eugene McMinns, Ishmael Strachan, Leslie Greene, Dale Knowles, Revello Williamson, Cardell Rolle, Akeeb Rolle and Garrett Cesaire.

Rolle, a linebacker and defensive captain, was named the Hilton Memorial Most Valuable Player, while McMinns was named the Rookie of the Year.

The sporting camps were held in conjunction with the school fair where Jeff Walker, manager of the campus at Prince Edward Island, Canada, said they are looking forward to offering more than $50,000 in scholarships in the fine arts.

The Bahamian players have also been dominant in the classroom as several received post-season scholar-athlete awards.

A total of 62 Hurricanes made the grade, combining a commitment to their studies with competing at a varsity or club level in their chosen sports.

Rolle (Heritage Retrofit Carpentry), McMinns (Sport and Leisure Management), Williamson (Computer Networking Technology) and Cesaire (Marine) all received the award.