The cold weather isn’t going to stop playoff football in Saskatchewan.
The Regina Thunder looks to claim its second national title in franchise history when they take on the Okanagan Sun in the CJFL Canadian Bowl. The two teams will square off at Mosaic Stadium with the temperatures forecasted to stay in the minus double digits.
Thunder quarterback Carter Shewchuk has been preparing all week to play in the conditions.
“I’ve just been kinda, making sure that with the snow on the side(lines) how it affects my vision on the field and my depth perception and how it would normally look,” Shewchuk said.
The team lost to the Saskatoon Hilltops in last year’s PFC final and a lot of players returned this season instead of playing in other programs or taking U SPORTS opportunities.
“Our mindset here now is we’re here to win and not necessarily go somewhere else,” Shewchuk added.
The last time the Thunder were in the national championship, it earned the franchise’s first title back in 2013.
Hardy Cup
The Saskatchewan Huskies will be in another Hardy Cup, the team’s fourth straight appearance. They will be taking on the UBC Thunderbirds who gave the Huskies its only loss this season.
With the temperatures also forecasted to be cold in Saskatoon, head coach Scott Flory says his team is ready.
“Our guys love it, these guys have played in bad weather games before,” he said.
Flory said the team has been preparing all week and they won’t stray too far from the game plan.
“Learn to take that contact and tackle and control the football in the cold weather. We gotta be able to still throw it and run as well,” Flory added.
But they know they will be in tough against a B.C. team who is coming in as the underdog.
“They’re all pretty young, but they’re well coached and physical. So, we’re going to have to match with them physically and especially adapt to this weather cause it’s going to be another winter wonderland,” Huskies running back Ryker Frank said.
Kickoff for the Huskies is at 1 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium on Saturday afternoon.