Northern Saskatchewan Football League engaging hundreds of young athletes
Approximately 200 high school athletes are preparing for another season with the Northern Saskatchewan Football League which starts next week.
There’s a significant change in how the six-man league will be organized this year as all eight teams have been split into two tiers. The first tier, of which the two best teams will represent the region at provincials, includes the Creighton Kodiaks, Cumberland House Islands, Pinehouse Lakers and Sandy Bay T-Wolves. The second tier includes the Ahtahkakoop Islanders, who are new to the league, Beauval Voyageurs, La Loche Lakers and the Senator Myles Venne School (SMVS) Huskies, who return after a one-year break.
“We decided as coaches to tier our teams to improve competition,” Northern Lights School Division Superintendent of Education Mark Williment said. “We felt it was a priority competition be much closer in the development of players and enhance the teams’ enjoyment of the game.”
Even though only teams in tier one have a shot at making it to provincials, Williment noted there will still be championship games held for both in Prince Albert and a team from each tier will be award the Ralph Pilz Trophy. Williment also wanted to remind northern residents they are more than welcome to attend and watch football games as they begin next week.