Ira Hozack was practicing his kicking on the field at Hat High on Wednesday. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat football player wins NFL Way to Play award

Oct 24, 2024 | 11:00 AM

Ira Hozack, a kicker, punter and wide receiver for the Medicine Hat High School Hawks football team has won the weekly NFL Way to Play award.

Hozack said his mom submitted a video of one of his kickoffs where he scored a rouge.

“I’ll admit it was pretty windy. It was a kickoff, just a deep right kick. Went out the back of the end zone. Couldn’t even return anything, so free point,” Hozack said.

“It’s really neat. I honestly didn’t even know my mom submitted my thing for it, so she basically just texted me. She’s like, so you won something,” he added.

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“I was like, what? I see it on Instagram. I’m like, this is freaking sick.”

The video of the kick was featured during a segment of a NFL broadcast on CTV.

Kickoffs rarely go through the end zone without being returned, the kick needs to travel 65 yards just to reach the goal line, with the end zone being an additional 20 yards.

The NFL Way to Play award is given to players who demonstrate proper technique to make impactful plays.

Only 10 of these awards are given out to Canadian football players annually.

Hozack said the Hawks football program will get a nice benefit out of the award from Football Canada.

“”I also figured out my team gets $3,000 worth of equipment, so that’s a big help towards the team. So it’s been awesome,” Hozack said.

Hozack, a Grade 12 student, has already received offers from multiple Canadian Universities to play football in the fall.

He has also kicked for Team Alberta in the past two Football Canada Cups.

The Hawks are in the first round of the playoffs on Friday and are hoping to play in the championship game in a couple of weeks.