Meet the North Shore Renegades, Montreal’s new all-female tackle football team

Meet the North Shore Renegades, a new all-female tackle football team on Montreal’s West Island and the newest addition to the North Shore Football family.

Committed to growing the game and creating opportunities for athletes of all backgrounds, this team is taking an important step in promoting and supporting women in football.

“We want to give everyone an opportunity to play, whether you’re a boy or a girl, or want to play flag football. Regardless of what it is, we want to get you on the field playing,” said Michael Masella, president of North Shore Football.

North Shore Football has been part of the West Island community since 1960. It is home to teams like the Broncos, Mustangs, Lions, Knights, and Roughriders, and now, with the introduction of the first all-girls team, the program continues to grow.

“Our program has been around for a long time, one of the oldest programs in Montreal. We’ve been around since 1960, but this is the first all-girls team,” said Masella.

He says some of his closest friends have come from his 16 years with North Shore Football, and he believes the same strong community bonds will form for the girls on the team.

“They’re part of something special, first team, and we have girls that would probably never have met. We have girls from LaSalle and Saint-Laurent here in the West Island, so it gives them an opportunity to meet people they may not have met in real life, and they’ll build a lifetime’s worth of memories.”

“I think it’s a lifetime of friendship and maybe a side of life that they don’t really know about. It’s more a boys thing, so maybe they’ll learn on their side of life, I guess,” added head coach Jerry Viu.

This volunteer-run organization has contributed to the community both on and off the field, with a history of championships and athletes who have advanced to play at the college and university levels.

With over 60 years of history in West Island tackle football, the North Shore Football Club is providing the Renegades with a welcoming and empowering space for female athletes to grow and thrive.

“We’re making history with these girls, right? So they can decide what their walk-in theme song is, what their chant is before the game. They’re creating that foundation, which I think will be, you know, years and decades of football,” expressed Masella.

The team is looking to expand and recruit teenage girls aged 15-17 who are passionate about football and ready to take the field.

Young athletes can enhance their skills, compete at a high level, and receive guidance from experienced football coaches with over 30 years of expertise.

Open to players born in 2008, 2009, and 2010, the Renegades provide a platform for young women to develop their skills, build confidence, and create lifelong memories on and off the field.

Masella says there is still plenty of time and room to register, and that experience isn’t necessary, as many players are coming from different sports or no sports at all, but are eager to try football.

“We have a mix of coaches as well that are coming together, which also makes it quite special and unique,” he said.

Viu adds it’s great that women’s football is gaining recognition.

“I think women’s football should have been played a long time ago. We’ve always had, in the younger kids, a lot of girls that have played football and shown a lot of interest, and it’s great that at this age a lot of them still want to do it,” said Viu.

Antoinette Bou-Assy has been playing football since 2020. After three years of playing, she had to take a break because there was no team for her. Now, thanks to the Renegades, she’s back and proudly part of the team. When she heard the news, she was ecstatic.

“I was so glad to be able to be in pads again and play this sport that I really love.”

“It’s honestly such an honour to be the captain of the first-ever Renegades team, and I’m so glad that we have this opportunity.”

She explains that being on the team has provided her with a supportive and loving environment, thanks to the encouragement from her managers, teammates, and coaches, and she feels truly grateful for that.

Someone who is also grateful for the opportunity is Madison Rouzier. She explained that she started playing football last year at her school with the boys, after enjoying flag football in gym class and wanting a more competitive experience. She decided to try football, joined the team, and then chose to join the Renegades after the team was formed.

She says she’s happy there’s now a team closer to where she lives, and she enjoys being around women, which feels different in a positive way compared to playing with guys.

“With the guys, it felt like I was trying to catch up to them. While here, we’re all moving together, getting better together. With the guys, it felt like I was trying to get to the same level as them and then advance with them. So it’s very good to have that around.”

Rouzier says being part of the team brings her closer to her goal of playing professional football in the United States.

“I’m glad that it’s showing that more women can play. You know, this isn’t a guy’s sport anymore. Women can play. We have teams. There’s a professional league in the States. We can go. This is our world as well.”

Terica Calkin is also part of the North Shore Renegades. She has been playing football for about two years, starting with flag football. She has also played rugby and basketball, staying very active. Watching her little brother play football always motivated her to join a team, but she found it difficult to do so when most teams were made up of boys.

“Now that they have a team for girls, it’s really empowering. It makes me want to join. So that’s why I decided to join,” she said.

“It makes me feel really happy, the fact that they made a team for girls. And that girls are able to talk, build connections, do the sport they love, and build new relationships with one another.”

She expressed her desire for a successful sports career, hoping to be recognized for her passion and hard work on the field.

“I hope it takes me far. I hope my career in sports goes up. And I hope people are able to see my true, like, passion, and it’s my sports and how hard I actually try on the field.”

“Even if people say men are stronger, men are better, it’s not the truth.”

The Renegades also offer players the opportunity to compete against top teams in Quebec while being part of the North Shore Football community, which has a long history of success and support. The team provides an environment that encourages growth, leadership, and resilience, both on and off the field.

They will compete in the LFFMQ (La Ligue Féminine de Football Mineur du Québec), a league focused on promoting excellence, sportsmanship, and community in women’s tackle football.

The team is also looking for sponsors to help grow the team and encourage more girls to join. Together, they hope to inspire others to break barriers, embrace the game, and build a winning team.

Masella says while the program has received some support, additional sponsorship is needed to cover the costs of running the team. He says sponsors have a unique opportunity to support an all-girls team within a well-established organization with a long history and a large community.

“The reality is, especially with new programs, everything is expensive. You know, helmets, shoulder pads… we’ve got great support from the cities, DDO and Pierrefonds, but we need more,” he said.

To join, you can visit their website, click on the Renegades logo, and there’s a registration option there.