West Edmonton Raiders
The West Edmonton Raiders are a minor football team, operating in the CDMFA, Capital District Minor Football Association, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. When formed in 1967 the Raiders were just a Bantam team, ages 13 to 14 and 15 if not in high school, but in 1993 they added a Pee-Wee team, ages 11 and 12, further adding to edmontons youth football league. In 1997 another team joined the Raider family, this time it was an Atom team, for boys and girls under the age of 10, and in 2005, for young men and women a Midget team, for graduating Gr. 9, Gr. 10 and Gr. 11 players, was added to the mix creating the Raiders we know today. Some Raider alumni include former CFL star Hank Ilesic, former NHL star and current TV commentator Kelly Hrudey, and former Edmonton Eskimo Tim Prinsen. Most recently former Raider Hugh O'Neil has joined on as kicker of the BC Lions.
Football Today
The kind of football the teams play today is similar to that of the Canadian Football League, a 3 "down" system to gain 10 yards, but the rules are official from the CDMFA (Capital District Minor Football League). The games and most practices, once equipment is handed out, are played in full equipment including shoulder pads, knee pads, thigh pads, hip pads, tail bone pads, mouthgaurds and most importantly helmets, any other equipment that the child feels necessary, like a cup, is not supplied by the team. Although a lot of people see football as a male only sport, girls are not only welcome, but are encouraged to play the game.
Recent Achievements
The Silver Atom's, won the 2007 Tier 4 Provincial Champions title. The Black PeeWees won the 2013 tier 2 city and provincial championship.
The Raiders have had two minor achievements this season already, with the Bantams winning the St. Paul Jamboree tournament in St. Paul, Alberta. The Atom and Bantam Raiders also won the first ever Andrew Balser Tournament on July 29, 2006.
In the past the Raiders have won the; 1999 atom city, CDMFA, and Provincial championship, the 2001 atoms did the same thing, in 2002 the atoms won the silver medal in the provincial championship, the 2002 Pee-Wees won the city, CDMFA championships, and won a silver medal at the provincials, the pee-wees of 2003 won the city, CDMFA, and Provincial championships. Also in 2005 the Midgets were CDMFA champs and the Atoms were City, CDMFA, and Provincial champions. 2007 Pee Wee CDMFA Tier II Champions and Provincial Champions. 2009 Bantam CDMFA and Football Alberta Provincial Tier III Champions.2011 Tier 2 Black Atoms
Resources
http://edmontonraiders.smugmug.com/gallery/1718848/1/84796217/Small
http://www.westedmontonraiders.com/
http://footballalberta.ab.ca/web/programs/minor.php