The Vincent Massey Trojans cemented themselves as a legitimate Winnipeg High School Football League program last November.

Now they want to establish a legacy.

The 2016 WHSFL regular season opens Thursday with games in the John Potter (AAA), Kas Vidruk (AA) and Andy Currie (A) divisions. The Trojans – who knocked off the St. Paul’s Crusaders 22-12 in last year’s Potter Division championship – return 25 players from that squad, including 16 starters; eight on defence and eight on offence.

“I won two championships when I was coaching at Churchill and the year after we had a very young, inexperienced team,” began Trojans head coach Kelsey McKay this week.

“This year is a whole different story with all the guys back. The opportunity to legitimately defend the championship is a very unique thing with such a veteran group.”

Kelsey McKay

“That’s the way we’ve approached it: this is something we want to keep. Some of our guys have won three championships already when you include the two JV titles. They’ve had a lot of success and we work hard every week.

“But it’s going to be tough.”

Vincent Massey opens with a tough one – against the Crusaders – Friday night. But McKay also lumped Oak Park and Sturgeon Heights among the legit contenders for the AAA title.

There are many things to like about the Trojans, but it’s what they have at the most important position on the field that could separate them from the pack. Quarterback Andreas Dueck is back for his senior year after leading Vincent Massey to junior varsity and varsity titles.

“I always say he doesn’t play quarterback, he’s a quarterback on all levels,” said McKay. “He’s well respected here. He’s a very positive guy and a really good athlete. He’s got great pride and a great humility about him. There are times where I’ve got to push him to step out of that and be a little more of a leader at times. He can throw, he’s accurate.”

McKay said Dueck has got future coach written all over him. As an example, when the club travelled to Saskatoon for a preseason contest, the head coach let Dueck call all his own plays. And when the No. 2 pivot entered the game, Dueck called the offence, too.

“He spends so much time breaking down film, he’s like another coach out there,” said McKay. “But handing him my call sheet for a game… I told him that’s unprecedented in all my years.”

Of course, it’s not just a dominant player that makes a championship team. Contributions have to come from everyone, and the Trojans have a commitment from everyone who pulls on their green and black uniforms.

“There’s a quiet confidence to how we do things and it’s proven now to have some success,” said McKay. “A championship validates that to some point, even though we thought we were doing well before that as well.

“These kids train year-round now. We always bug them to play more sports, but they’re training and doing speed-stuff and offseason football stuff. We had 11 kids on the U-18 team and our back-up quarterback, who is only in Grade 10, was the starter on the U-16 squad.

“They’ve really made a solid commitment to the game and we’re excited about that.”

WHO TO WATCH IN THE WHSFL

Some names to keep an eye on this season:

• Andreas Dueck, QB, Vincent Massey Trojans: Starter for Manitoba’s Canada Cup team, being chased by close to 20 CIS programs.
• Brody Williams, LB, St. Paul’s Crusaders: Three-year starter and member of Manitoba’s U-18 team.
• Kaeden Corrie, RB, Sturgeon Heights Huskies: Last year’s rushing leader returns bigger, stronger, faster.
• Rain Slater, OL, St John’s Tigers: Massive man at 300-plus pounds who was the Currie Conference top lineman last year.
• Tyler Fedak, RB/WR, Portage Collegiate Trojans: Dual threat out of the backfield as a receiver and running back
• Shakur Harris, RB/SB, Oak Park Raiders: Dynamic receiver/running back who is also a spectacular kick returner.
• Galata Gurmu, DB, Vincent Massey Trojans: Dominant defender who also played for Team Canada.

WHSFL THURSDAY GAMES

Currie
DMCI @St Norbert, La Salle, 5 p.m.
Kildonan East @ Ft Frances, 3 p.m.

Vidruk
River East @ Steinbach, 5 p.m.
Miles Mac @ Churchill, 5 p.m.
Vincent Massey (Brandon) @ Crocus, 5 p.m.

Potter
Sturgeon @ Oak Park, Broncos Field, 5 p.m.
Dakota @ Garden City, 5 p.m.