Categories: CompetitiveMen's

From Hall of Fame to the Maple Leaf: AJ Gomes Makes His Mark with Team Canada

“The second I put on that Team Canada jersey, everything changed.” – AJ Gomes

If you’ve been around the FlagPlus Football scene anytime in the past decade, the name rings loud. Gomes debuted back in 2015 with the Cougars as a teenager with raw talent and quiet confidence. Now, 10 years later, he’s a full-blown cornerstone of the league — there are flag players — and then there’s AJ Gomes.

He’s a 14-time All-Star, 4-time champion, 10-time individual award winner, and a proud member of the FPF Hall of Fame (Class of 2022). Off the field, he’s a coach and mentor — smart, humble, and respected. On the field, he’s a chess master disguised as an athlete — calculating, instinctual, and impossible to ignore.

And now? Team Canada.

Earlier last month, AJ got the call-up from the reserve list and made his international debut at the Summer Series in Los Angeles, where he helped lead Canada to a 4–0 sweep, including a statement win over the powerhouse Team USA. It was emotional. It was intense. And it was proof that AJ doesn’t just belong on the international stage — he thrives on it.

We caught up with AJ fresh off the tournament to talk about the call, the win, and what this next chapter means for a player already etched into FPF history.

A player just as likely to torch your defense on a post route as he is to bait your QB into a bad throw from the safety spot.

Q&A With AJ Gomes

First off, huge congrats. This was your first time representing Canada. You got the call-up, stepped in, and balled out. What was that moment like when you officially got the call?

AJ:
First of all thank you brother! All the love and support from my friends, family and flag community back home really helped fuel me and keep me focused while I was out there.

You guys went 4-0 in the Summer Series in Los Angeles and took down Team USA. Walk us through it from your perspective. What clicked for you and the team out there?

AJ:
I feel like the key to beating USA was all in our preparation as well as the fact that we were in constant control the whole game and we never took our foot off the gas. Our defence set the tone with a huge pick on the first drive of the game and we drove down the field and capitalized. We had long drives and limited the time they had with the ball to the best of our abilities.

Beating Team USA — the gold standard in flag football — that’s a huge statement. What did that win mean to you and the group?

AJ:
That win vs USA was obviously a very special one. Yes they are a great team with great athletes but it’s a bit deeper than that. It was our first real game together as a team and everyone played a huge role. To see it all come together on the field vs an incredible team like that truly was outstanding and it’s something that I’ll cherish forever.

After the way you played, do you feel like you earned your spot permanently? Have the coaches given any indication?

AJ:
I think it goes without saying that I’d definitely love to represent my country again. I did my best and tried to make my plays when I had my chances. I think I played good football, I don’t know what the future holds right now but in the meantime, I’m trying my best not to stress too much about the future, enjoy the moment and hope for another call back. If I get it that’s awesome, if I don’t that’s ok too I know those boys are gonna do great regardless.

Looking ahead to nationals, how confident are you in this team’s chances to go all the way and beat Team USA again when it matters most?

AJ:
After this weekend we definitely got a huge confidence boost and we know we can hang with the best. With that said we expect team USA to come out strong next time we play them as they try and extract their revenge. I truly believe that our level of preparation and execution helps us be able to compete against anyone.

You’ve played in FPF’s highest division for a while now. How would you compare the international competition to the level of play in 5v5 Competitive? Was there a big gap?

AJ:
FPFs highest divisions definitely helped me prepare for this moment and for what’s out there. I did have the pleasure of competing against some incredibly talented athletes on the international level and I would say there isn’t a huge gap but the level of athleticism was really special to see. Every single person on the field is a high level elite athlete.

Based on what you saw, do you think some of the current FPF 5v5 Competitive teams could’ve gone and held their own?

AJ:
I definitely think some of FPFs best players could have held their own out there. I’m a strong believer in flag being such a beautiful sport because of the fact that it truly can be simple when you break it down it’s just running, catching and deflaging.

You’ve been on some strong FPF rosters over the years — would you say this is the best team you’ve ever played on? If so, what makes it feel that way?

AJ:
This was by far the absolute best team I have ever had the pleasure of playing on. Every single player was basically a professional athlete. Every player executed at such a high level. Our defence was so hungry and our offence was flowing incredibly smooth for guys that didn’t have much practice together.

What was your favorite part of the experience, whether it was on the field or off the field being part of Team Canada?

AJ:
It’s hard to pick one favourite part but there was definitely some special moments that stood out… putting on my jersey for the first time, spending time with the boys and building that brotherhood, the joint practices with USA and Japan while bonding with the other countries was awesome and lastly… the touchdown I scored vs USA on the fade as well as the win vs them will live in my heart forever.

Fade TD vs Team USA

Now that you’ve had a taste of representing Canada, is your mindset any different going forward? Has this lit a fire in you for what’s next?

AJ:
After representing Canada and being held to a certain standard my mindset is totally different. Being in a room full of pros with pro coaches really helped me look inward at who I am and how I need to prepare, how I need to be in love with the process, how serious I need to take my preparation, how serious I need to be about my body and my recovery. It was an eye opening experience to say the least.

Lastly — do you feel like you’re playing the best football of your career right now? Are we seeing AJ Gomes in his prime, or is there still another level coming?

AJ:
I feel like I played very good but I always feel like I can improve. There’s always room to grow and clean things up. The coaches helped me realize I’m not perfect and I do have things to improve on, I’m forever grateful for that. I don’t think I hit my prime yet as a flag player, I think the best is yet to come, especially after the things I’ve learnt, the way I plan to prepare, train and recover moving forward. I’m ready to take my game to the next level and be the best version of myself.

For AJ Gomes, wearing the maple leaf wasn’t just about football — it was about purpose, growth, and carrying a decade-long journey to new heights. From becoming a star and a face of FPF to delivering a game-changing touchdown on an international stage, his story reminds us that preparation meets opportunity when passion never fades. And off the field, that same passion drives him to coach, mentor, and give back to the very community that shaped him. Whether or not another call comes, one thing is clear: that jersey didn’t change who AJ Gomes is — it revealed who he’s always been.