‘It is about local talent’: Sask. football talent highlights strong minor programs

WATCH: Football is at the forefront of many minds in Saskatchewan, as teams across the province are showcasing strong seasons.

Football is at the forefront of many minds in Saskatchewan, as teams across the province are showcasing strong seasons.

“It is about local talent here in the province. And that’s one of the reasons why we have continued success here in the province. It’s not ebbs and flows of a really good team that had a flash in the pan, we’re always fighting on the national stage,” Brian Guebert, executive director of Saskatoon Minor Football said.

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders are heading into the CFL playoffs at the top of the Western Division, junior and university teams are also representing the province with impressive seasons.

As U Sports playoffs draw near, the Regina Rams and Saskatoon Huskies both share a 6-1 record.

Junior teams in the province will once again battle for the Prairie Football Conference title, with the Regina Thunder and Saskatoon Hilltops facing off Sunday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

“It’s just part of the culture here in the province. And we have such great coaches from the grassroots level all the way up to the junior and university level that it’s a great place to play football,” Guebert said.

Guebert added that many athletes choose to give back to the organizations that first taught them the game after they retire.

“Part of it is those athletes are just so grateful for the experiences they were given, to grow up and get where they are now,” he said. “And that’s what we want too. We want to keep improving. We want to give these kids a better and better experience, each generation after another.”

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Peter Boersch, a Regina Thunder running back recently named PFC MVP, echoed those sentiments. He said the community work many teams do with local minor programs can have a big impact.

“When we go out, we volunteer as a team, right? So they see us laughing and messing around with our guys as much as we’re having fun with the kids,” Boersch said. “They come to our games, and I think it’s pretty special for them to see.”

Boersch added that he grew up playing in the Regina Minor Football (RMF) league, and it was an experience that influenced his decision to keep playing football in the city.

“We use the same field half the time at Leibel, and so we owe it to the kids and their families and RMF to just keep going and hang out with them and trying to give them the best experience they can, so they keep pursuing football,” Boersch said.

The Saskatoon Valkyries undoubtably highlight the local talent in the province. As reigning Western Women’s Football League champions, many of those involved with the team also share their time with young athletes in the sport.

“I’m coaching right now some flag, and just like watching them kind of pick up on their skills and pick up on those little things that you’re teaching them and their excitement for playing and just being out there and enjoying time with other like minded people, It’s really fun to see and just like watch their confidence and skills grow,” Rachelle Smith, a receiver with the Saskatoon Valkyries said.

Smith said it’s promising to see more girls playing football.

“When I started, there weren’t a lot of younger girls on the teams,” she said. “Now, you’re seeing it a lot more with the high school teams in Saskatoon and Regina. There are young girls getting out there playing tackle football.”

The football culture in Saskatchewan also tends to have a strong influence on the choices that athletes make when looking at post secondary options.

Levi Gaudet, a Grade 12 student-athlete at St. Joseph High School in Saskatoon, said growing up watching Saskatchewan teams shaped how he sees the sport.

“It’s really awesome to be able to just have a community around this and be able to watch and pay attention and cheer on like the team that I’ve grown up watching, watching like the Hilltops and the Huskies and I have family that out in Regina plays for the Thunder. It’s pretty cool to grow up in a province that’s really into football and really enjoys growing the sport,” Gaudet said.

Gaudet hopes to continue playing after high school and wants to stay in the province that inspired his love for the game.

“We grow such a huge brand here in Saskatchewan,” he said. “It helps guys make a decision quicker. Guys understand we have great football programs here, and we grow great football teams.”