A successful local football star from North Bay is hoping to create more opportunities for North Bay football players by bringing a unique football showcase to the Canadore Dome on March 8.
Mason McGrisken has spent four seasons playing USports football, primarily at quarterback for Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
The West Ferris Trojans football alum, who graduated with a degree in Kineisiology from the Quebec university has made the transition from player to coach with Football North; a football academy based in southern Ontario.
"I wound up with an amazing opportunity through past coaches that I have had at a school called Football North which is a prep school in the Toronto area where we bring in kids from all over Canada and play a full season across the United States," said McGriskin.
"We play the top schools and we try to give them the maximum amount of exposure that we can for these kids."
McGriskin will be joined by some CFL players at the event. Another West Ferris alum, Jay Turnsek who played defensive back for the St. FX X-Men and attended the CFL combine.
McGriskin thought it would be a good idea to try and bring his program to North Bay instead of making them go south.
"Why not bring some opportunity to the city for the first time," he said.
"I think it will be a camp that this city has never seen before."
He believes it is perfect timing with the opening of the new Canadore Dome.
"it will be a great day for us to see some talent and also give back to the community and give them a really fun day where they can come and test their skills," he said.
"We are going to have a combine set-up where it will be all laser timed. It will be a skills camp that will end with a seven-on-seven tournament."
McGriskin says in the past four years, Football North has 60 players who have moved on from their program to NCAA Division-1 and over 120 to USports teams in Canada.
North Bay's Will McCharles attended the academy and the tight end-fullback recently finished his sophomore season at Western University in London, Ont.
"The great thing about a school like Football North is we build the relationships for the players, we get in touch with NCAA Division-1 coaches in the U.S. Last year we sent nine players to NCAA Division-1," said McGriskin.
Cost is $180 for online registration of $200 at the door. For more information contact Mason at (705) 492-9310.