Grade 11 student Ira Hozack practices at a field in Medicine Hat. The punter/kicker is being mentored by CFL all-star and seven-time Grey Cup champ Hank Ilesic. (Photo Courtesy Lisa Parent)

By Lisa Parent

Local football talent gains wisdom from CFL icon Hank Ilesic

Aug 8, 2023 | 9:25 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A local football player is getting the opportunity many athletes can only dream of. Grade 11 student Ira Hozack is being mentored by a hall of famer.

“I started playing football when I was seven. I was mainly into soccer at that point, so one of my good soccer friends was like, I’m gonna try football. So then I started football and they needed a kicker,” Hozack explained.

Hozack began taking football more seriously last year, going to camps and tryouts for teams. After attending a CFC prospect game last year, Hozack was connected with Hank Ilesic, a former all-star punter that played on seven Grey Cup-winning teams.

“He’s like a funny uncle. He’s probably one of the funniest guys I’ve met. He’s awesome to hang out with,” Hozack said about Ilesic.

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Ilesic invited Hozack to train with him last summer, and again this summer. Hozack’s father Rob says Ilesic’s coaching style is intense, but effective.

“He wants to mimic the pressure of a game. So the kicking especially is a high-pressure position, and like Ira said, after you train with Hank, going out to kick in a game is nothing,” said Ira’s father.

Ira Hozack says training with Ilesic has transformed his punting style.

“When I first got there, I just completely relearned what to do because from what he saw, I wasn’t doing it really right. So just completely relearned everything.”

What Ilesic may see in Hozack has been noticed by many. At his young age, Hozack has already played on Alberta International selects for two years, in two CFC youth prospects games, and played in the Canada Cup in Edmonton. He also won MVP of the US College tour team showcase out of 750 participants.

All of this training is leading up to what Hozack hopes will be a career in the CFL or NFL, something Ilesic is helping him work towards.

“So, Hank obviously has lots of connections. So he’s been talking to a bunch of coaches about me and helping me out with that. And he talked to the Calgary Stampeders and got me these footballs, which was really awesome,” said Hozack as he showed his football to the camera.

However it will take small steps to achieve those big dreams, and the young punter will start by playing another year of football for the Hat High Hawks starting in August.