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“I was never the best high school player,” the 24-year-old Grondin said. “I was never an all-star, but after high school I started taking it seriously.

“I’ve kind of been pushing towards this dream for probably five years now, ever since I came to AKO. My passion for football is so strong, it changed my dream to try and play professional football.”

Grondin was one of several Fratmen to benefit from the OFC increasing the playing age from 22 to 24 and allowing them more opportunity to develop. The OFC will reduce the age to 23 this season and back to 22 next in a year when it rejoins the Canadian Junior Football League. It’s a change all OFC teams voted in favour of, but not one every squad likes.

“The overage rule was huge for that aspect,” said LaChance, who noted it also gave teams a bigger pool to draw players. “I’m very disappointed to see how shortsighted the CJFL is on this. I thought that developing players to move on to the next level was a big part of junior football. I guess they don’t see it like that.”

Noel was an all-star receiver at the University of Toronto, but credits his year with AKO for getting him drafted after he left school.

“If you sit out for a year and don’t show you’re playing, you don’t get exposure,” the 24-year-old said. “I feel for the people in my position this year and moving forward. Luckily, I got there just before they installed the rule. It’s unfortunate for other guys. I wish they extended that or got rid of it because it’s going to hurt people’s chances (to go pro) or make it harder.”