Carlton Comprehensive High School senior Lukas McConechy is an athlete of many sports, but earlier this month, he made a serious commitment to one.
On June 1 McConechy announced that he has committed to the Regina Thunder of the Canadian Junior Football League, taking a major step towards a professional pigskin career.
McConechy will report to the Thunder’s fall training camp on July 31, where he’ll be fighting for a spot on the team’s roster.
“I’ve got one more step to go,” McConechy said of the upcoming camp. “It’s a bit of a numbers game, but I’ll just keep on my game, keep working hard and it’s great to just take a step in the right direction.”
The Thunder play in the CJFL’s Prairie Football Conference, a six-team division of franchises based in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
In 2013, the Thunder won the CJFL championship with a 55-26 triumph over the British Columbia Football Conference’s Vancouver Island Raiders in Regina.
With a future in the Canadian Football League on the table, McConechy looks to follow the path of Thunder alumni and current Saskatchewan Roughriders Paul Woldu and Chris Getzlaf.
“With football, I’m just trying to go as far as I can,” McConechy said when asked if his goal is to make it to the CFL. “I just want to have as much fun as I can while I’m doing it. You just have to keep rolling with the punches and see where you can go.”
McConechy has demonstrated his athletic abilities as a member of numerous teams in Prince Albert.
While playing with the Carlton Crusaders football team, McConechy also had his hand in rugby with the Saskatchewan Rivers Dragons club, who on Monday awarded the senior with the team’s Best Back honour.
His efforts off the field have also been recognized. In October, McConechy was awarded the Kinsmen male athlete of the year award in part for his efforts in the Friday Nigh Lights Campaign, a successful fundraiser to have lights installed at Prime Ministers Field.
Much like the Canadian Hockey League, the CJFL acts as a feeder system to the next step as many of the league’s players have gone on to play in the CFL and other professional organizations.
Unlike players in the CHL, however, McConechy will not be billeted as he is now tasked with finding his own apartment in Regina.
McConechy is enrolled at the University of Regina, where he’ll be taking kinesiology.
“It’ll be different but exciting,” McConechy said of moving away from his home in Prince Albert for the first time. “It’s life. You have to be ready to move out and I’m excited to take this next step in my life.”
Leading up to the Thunder’s camp, McConechy said he’ll be training everyday, doing everything he can to crack the squad.
“I’ll be in the weight room, running, swimming,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what it takes, I’ll do it.”
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