Team Manitoba's U19 football team has a good Portage la Prairie flare to it this year.

Portage is represented well on the field and on the sideline as Portage Collegiate's new head coach, and former Blue Bomber coach/player, Donald Burrell is leading the coaching staff.

"I have four PCI Trojans who earned a spot on the roster. Bryce Verwey, Tyler Fedak, Connor Green, and Eric McCutcheon -- who actually made the roster but he had to drop out due to injury," says Burrell. "I had a chance to coach them during the spring, I'm the new head coach and the spring was my first time actually leading them, and seeing what they could do on the field in our only spring game. I'm excited about what those players bring to the table, and this tournament."

Trojans' head coach Donald Burrell speaking at last season's awards banquet. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

Burrell's feeling confident after sifting through 134 players to get to the top 40, and he's looking forward to next week's competition.

"I have a new offensive coordinator, same defensive coordinator, but we only have seven players returning from last year and Fedak is one of those seven players and a team captain. So I'm excited about what this team can do at the tournament."

Team Manitoba's first game of the tournament is Saturday, July 8th at 9 a.m. in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. You can get all the details on the Canada Cup here.