McMaster lands Ivanchuk

Tuesday was a momentous day for A.N. Myer football player Cade Ivanchuk.

Surrounded by family, friends, coaches and teammates, the 18-year-old committed to play football for the McMaster Marauders.

“It’s crazy. I went from a guy who didn’t really care about football to a guy now who is making it his No. 1 priority until after university at the very least. It’s surreal, for sure.”

Early on in his high school football career, it seemed highly unlikely this day would ever come for the 6-foot-1, 260-pound offensive and defensive lineman.

Myer senior football head coach Dave Buchanan remembers seeing Ivanchuk sitting disinterested in the stands in his equipment while a junior practice was being held on the field during his Grade 10 year.

“I went up to him and I asked him if he really wanted to do this. ‘Are you just playing for your dad (Bryce) because he has a football history because I know his father never wanted him to do it for that.’ I challenged him and said ‘There is a time when you have to decide if you want to do this and basically don’t waste our time and your time. If you don’t the door is there. You can leave or stay but you are not going to do it up here.’ I think it was an impactful moment for him.”

Cade Ivanchuk agrees with that assessment.

“Once Grade 10 hit, I started taking football more seriously. Grade 10 was more of light year for me but then I met Buchanan and he really pushed me to focus on the sport. I ended up dropping hockey, I fully committed to football and here I am.”

He also credited his father for his finding his love of football.

“As a young kid, I really liked it but then I had a slight back issue so the moment that started getting better, my dad, who loves football and is a coach here, taught me everything I know. Once I started getting the feel that I was pretty good at it, him and I had a talk and it was around Grade 11 midway through the season where I decided that I was fully committing to football.”

From that moment on, he got busy.

“I worked out with Steve Lidstone at Brock Sports Performance and I have been doing that for every off-season. I have gotten faster and stronger.”

Ivanchuk became a key member of Myer’s lines.

“We have a grit award named after former coach Glen Timlock and Glen was all about grit and toughness. Once Cade decided he was going to do it, he never missed a game in the three years that he played senior and that isn’t always easy. You are playing hurt,” Buchanan said. “And the tougher the game, the tougher the opponent, the more he liked football.”

That attribute pointed to a promising future.

“To me, that showed that the next step for him was going to be having potential because we all know that when you are playing in the OUA every practice is rough and every player is tough,” Buchanan said. “Even though some people might say he is under-sized from a line perspective, he has great athleticism and a grit about him.”

Ivanchuk feels his game has developed a lot in the past few years.

“I care a lot more about the little details of what I am doing. Back then, I was able to rely on strength but now I am able to work in athleticism and knowledge of the game. That helps me a lot.”

Ivanchuk realized he had a chance to play Ontario University Athletics football midway through his Grade 12 season.

“Once we got to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations bowl game), that’s when everything really started for me. (Mike) Solanki is a coach here as well and he also coaches at McMaster which was a great in for me at that school and everything just aligned.”

He also had an offer from Waterloo and had discussions with Queen’s and the University of Toronto but McMaster was his destination of choice.

“Solanki was a big influence but then I met (McMaster head coach Stefan) Ptaszek and coach Hopkins (O-line coach Chris) and they were really supportive and very inclusive with me. They checked off all the boxes for me and I went on a visit and got to see all their facilities. I just kind of knew that is where I had to be,” the future psychology major said.

He is already getting ready for his first training camp.

“I’m going to work and work out. Make money and get stronger until I get there.”

He has two goals for his freshman season.

“I want to get stronger by the time I get there and hopefully dress. I am going to give it all I can this off-season to go as far as I can with it.”

He can’t wait to get started.

“I am looking forward to the group of guys that I am going to meet and playing more football.”