Grovedale-born Carter Kettyle will be heading to the Grey Cup with the Edmonton Elks this weekend.
The Elks earned the right to play for the biggest prize in Canadian football after dispatching the the B.C. Lions to advance to the Grey Cup taking place in Calgary on Sunday.
Kettyle says getting the chance to potentially lift silverware in his rookie season is something he could only dream of in a year filled with dreams coming true.
“As a football player I feel a sense of gratitude to be able to be in a position that I’m in. Its an amazing experience to be able to go to the Grey Cup in your first year, and learn a lot of really good lessons along the way.”
With a family full of Elks fans even prior to his drafting by the team, Kettyle says his mother shared a photo from approximately 10 years ago where he and his teammates were lined up to run out with the squad pre-game. Following a rough couple of seasons as a fan, which contained a record breaking losing streak, Kettyle says there is a different kind of pride in putting on the green and gold
“Its kind of a cool thing to be able to reflect on and look back at and see the change of going from the little kid that’s super excited to watch the game to the big kid that gets to go play.”
“Honestly growing up being an Elks fan and growing up close to here and being apart of the dark year; there is a lot of pride in seeing 40,000 people in the stands and to be able to put on a winning product on the field for people to be excited about and to kind of rally around.”
Despite a successful early season, it wasn’t without it’s speedbumps. Kettyle suffered a hamstring injury which sidelined him in September until current day. He says the injury, while difficult to process at the time, showed him a different side of his hometown, one filled with support from afar.
“Being able to go up to Grande Prairie and spend sometime around people. The amount of messages I’ve been getting and calls and stuff has been unbelievable.”
“The support that I feel from the Alberta football community, but also the city of Grande Prairie is amazing.”
He adds regardless of the result on Sunday, he will remain grateful and humbled by anyone who will be taking the time out of their day on Sunday to watch him play.
“Thank you to everybody that reaches out, thank you to all of the supporters over the year its been amazing.”
The Elks will be against the Montreal Alouettes for the 113th Grey Cup on Nov. 15.
