The Heart of the Huddle: Brandon Picken’s Journey

If you spend any time around the Cornwall Men’s Flag Football League, you are bound to run into Brandon Picken. At 34 years old, the Cornwall native has become a fixture of the local sports scene, recently wrapping up his eleventh season on the flag football field. For Brandon, football isn’t just a game played with a pigskin and a set of flags; it is a decade plus narrative of community, leadership, and a relentless competitive drive that started back in his high school days.

Brandon’s football journey began in the eleventh grade at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School. He wasn’t just a participant; he was a winner from the jump, securing an SD&G league championship and earning a spot on the Ottawa Region AIA East All Star team. His talent eventually took him to the Cornwall Wildcats in the OVFL before he traded his cleats for textbooks during a four year stint at Queen’s University. However, the pull of the game was too strong to ignore for long. By the fall of 2014, Brandon was back on the field, beginning a CMFFL career.

The early years were a masterclass in learning the ropes. He spent two seasons under the guidance of league veteran Scott Coulter on the “Play It Again Sports and Cornwall Police Association” squad. That foundation paved the way for a dominant run with “Jas-Mar Paint”, where Brandon secured two league titles over six years. The winning didn’t stop there. When the team transitioned to their current sponsor, “Budweiser”, the momentum only shifted into a higher gear with back to back championships. When you look at the stat sheet, Brandon’s resume is staggering: eleven seasons, seven league finals, and four championships, plus two additional winter league titles for good measure.

Beyond the trophies, Brandon has been a pillar of the league’s infrastructure. Serving as both Vice President and League President for two years each, he has seen the game from every possible angle. Yet, if you ask him what sticks out most, he won’t point to a specific trophy or a board meeting. Instead, he talks about the people.

For Brandon, the most cherished memories involve sharing the grass with his brother, Dan Bertrand, and one of his best friends, Thor Grant. While the Budweiser squad has built a formidable winning culture, Brandon insists that the camaraderie is the real prize. He thrives on the weekly routine of hanging out with the boys twice a week, keeping those competitive juices flowing while maintaining the bonds that make amateur sports so special.

Looking ahead, Brandon has no plans to hang up the flags anytime soon. He draws inspiration from the league’s iron men like Brian O’Neill, Tommy MacKay, Scott Coulter, and Marc Bigras. These veterans represent the longevity Brandon aspires to achieve. He intends to keep playing as long as his body allows, motivated by the simple joy of staying active and the even simpler joy of a post game celebration with friends.

In a world where sports can often feel overly professionalized, Brandon Picken reminds us why we started playing in the first place. It is about the thrill of the win, the sting of the loss, and the friends who are there for both. As long as there is a field in Cornwall and a game to be played, you can bet Brandon will be right in the thick of it.