In 2004, NWSS won its first playoff game, a thrilling 30-27 win on the final drive against
Ballenas, in front of a noisy crowd at Mercer Stadium. That season Ingram Jaccard was named
the provincial AA MVP and became the first Hyack in the “new era” to earn a college scholarship
(to SFU). That same year the program expanded with the addition of the Royal City Hyacks Jr
Bantam program for 12-13 year olds. Two years later a Pee Wee team (ages 10-11) was added,
and in 2009 the youth program expanded again to include flag (ages 5-7) and atom (ages 8-9) teams.
In 2005 NWSS made the jump to the AAA level and again made the playoffs and in 2007, advanced
to the provincial AAA semi-finals for the first of 3 straight seasons. Already there have been
17 NWSS grads that have gone on to earn college scholarships, two of them to NCAA schools in the
US. This year there are 220 players enrolled among the 6 Hyack teams.
Through it all, the staff, students and administration of NWSS, along with the city of New Westminster,
have embraced the football program fully. Corporations have come forward with sponsorships,
others have donated prizes for the successful annual Hyack Football Tailgate Auction. The school
and school board has encouraged every aspect of the program and made it possible to raise funds
for all the program has to offer. And Friday night games at Mercer Stadium have become the place
to be each fall.
In addition, members of the Hyack Football program spend significant hours in the community.
Activities include: Set up and tear down at major city events such as May Day, the Hyack Parade
and Fraser Fest; Reading at International Reading Day; Environmental clean up at various city
parks sites, raising money and gifts for the Christmas Bureau, and many others. Along the way
the Hyack program has received awards for its community involvement.