‘As a kid you always dream’: Edmonton Elks who grew up watching the green and gold excited for upcoming season

The Edmonton Elks are hoping some homegrown talent can help them return to their former glory. CTV News Edmonton's Evan Kenny has the story.

While the Edmonton Elks home opener last weekend didn’t go as the team hoped, it still felt special for a few of the players who grew up watching the green and gold.

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“It’s a treat, it’s something to be really, really excited about. I got all kinds of guys around me now that are guys who I got an unbelievable amount of belief in and it’s just great to be back and have that excitement and that juice flowing again,” Elks offensive lineman David Beard said Wednesday before the home opener.

He may not be a household name, but Beard has a hand in every Elks’ touchdown. This year, he’s back anchoring the offensive line after spending the past two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

The offensive lineman isn’t playing too far from home as he grew up in Sherwood Park and played in Edmonton between 2015 and 2022.

“It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a real treat to play in front of the fans and I hope they’re as excited as we are,” said Beard. The same excitement is being felt by two other locals: Josiah Schakel and Mark Korte grew up watching the Elks win Grey Cups from opposite sides of the Edmonton area.

“It means a lot to me to play here. It’s very important to me that this team is successful and that we have good results, especially at home,” Korte said last week. Schakel is from Sherwood Park while Korte was born in Spruce Grove.

“It’s a whole experience for somebody who watched the team growing up, as a kid you always dream, ‘I want to play for the Eskimos one day,’ or the Elks now, but actually doing it is another thing,” Schakel said during Sunday practice.

Schakel said he’s witnessed the history of the team winning with thousands of people in the stands at Commonwealth Stadium and feels “incredible” to be on the field representing the team.

The players say they’re excited to show a new and improved product on the field after a few down years for the franchise.

• Elks lose home opener to Alouettes, drop to 0-2

The Elks take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday. The team will return home to host Ottawa the first weekend of July.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny