Senator Myles Venne School is returning to the league this season. (submitted photo/Mark Williment)

By Derek Cornet

Football Season

Northern Saskatchewan Football League engaging hundreds of young athletes

Sep 4, 2019 | 5:11 PM

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.

“We are very fortunate to have the support of northern residents in all of our communities,” he said. “They make a difference, they encourage their own kids and are very proud of who they are becoming by playing football.”

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Steve Aldridge, who is a coach for the SMVS Huskies, stated he was excited for the school to re-enter the league again. He was also happy with the new tier system coming into play, adding it will also be beneficial for Ahtahkakoop as they are newcomers. Aldridge mentioned there are about 15 players with the Huskies and he noted they have been training since Aug. 27.

“Ahtahkakoop is joining our league and that might be a better fit for them than the league they were in last year,” he said. “Beauval struggled last year and they will be joining the second tier. It gives some of the students an opportunity to see some success. Nobody likes a big blowout and this should even the playing field.”

Home games for SMVS will be held Sept. 12 and Oct. 1 with a kickoff time of 3 p.m.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno