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A pair of Saskatchewan athletes will look to help Canada on the international flag football stage.
Neko Michell and Olivia Klein have both been named to the inaugural Football Canada U17 girls flag football team — the only two athletes from the province named in that age group.
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“I’m super excited. I’m incredibly honoured to do that because it’s the first year that we have an official international flag team so it’s really cool to be a part of the first,” said Michell, who is from Regina.
Klein, a 16-year-old defensive back, hails from Saskatoon and said it means everything to get a chance to represent the country.
“It means everything. It’s a huge opportunity and accomplishment and something I have been working towards. I’m really excited to play with girls I have never played with before,” Klein said.
“It’s so different because I have always played on lots of competitive teams before with lots of girls I have played with previously. Playing with girls from across Canada I barely know is so cool and I hope I make awesome friendships and it is going to be so great to meet the coaches and have that connection with all the girls.
“We all have the same goal and passion with the sport and we love it and so it makes everything just so much more special. Being able to go down to (Los Angeles) is incredible.”
Michell said Football Canada identified a number of players they considered the top athletes from across Canada. After nationals in Kingston, Ont., an ID camp was held, which eventually led to the team being selected.
Along with Klein and Michell, the U15 girls team also features a pair of Saskatchewan talents, with Jordan Gelinas and Cassidy Park getting selected.
The 16-year-old Michell plays both wide receiver and defensive back, first starting to play flag football at eight years old.
“My first year was actually coached by former Roughrider Makena Henry,” Michell said. “Growing up, I played a ton of sports but football has always been one of my favourites. We have a great league in Regina that I just always enjoy playing throughout the years.”
Klein also started at eight years old, admitting hockey was the sport she focused on the most.
“My parents and I always joke it was supposed to be my second sport,” Klein said. “The tables have turned and (football) has become my main sport now.”
Olivia Klein and Niko Michell hold the Saskatchewan flag at the 2025 Nationals. (Crystal Klein/Submitted)
Both Michell and Klein were on the 2024 Saskatchewan U16 team that won gold at the national tournament in Kingston, Ont., beating the Quebec team 28-19 in the finals. Michell was named an offensive and defensive all-star at the event as well as the MVP.
“That was awesome. That was such a great opportunity. We got to go after that and represent Team Canada at the Junior International Flag Cup,” Michell said.
That event took them to Los Angeles, Calif., to compete against a number of teams from around the world. The finished fourth after losing in overtime to the Azteca team.
“We got to stay at the (California State University) Long Beach dorms and to meet all these people from around the world; it was really cool.”
She admitted it’s a cool opportunity to show what athletes from Saskatchewan can do on the international stage, along with other athletes from bigger provinces.
“Me and Olivia are very excited. Our roster is lots of girls from Quebec and only two from Saskatchewan but we are very excited to be from a small province and go and represent.”
The sport has been gaining a lot of popularity over the past few years after it was announced that it would be a part of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Klein admits you have seen a big increase in interest over the past few years since that announcement. She hopes to one day get a chance to represent Canada at The Games.
“That would be incredible. I have big goals for myself, and that is definitely one of them. Making this team right now is one of my big goals I have accomplished so hopefully going to this tournament, I perform well and continue to get better and continue my drive and passion for the sport and hopefully that takes me to the Olympics one day,” Klein said.
“My parents always said they would like to go to the Olympics one day and what better way than to go and watch someone you know there.”
Women’s flag football is also set to join U Sports as a pilot program beginning in 2027/28.
“Flag football is such a great sport and it’s something lots of people are joining in (playing),” Michell said. “(Being brought into U Sports) just gives us lots of opportunities for us to all enjoy the sport.”
The chosen athletes will participate in a National Team training camp in Chula Vista, Calif., in about a week, where they will train alongside Canada’s Senior Men’s and Women’s National Flag Football Teams.
“It’s really cool to get to play with girls from all over the country – that’s something I’m most excited for,” Michell said. “I’m excited to meet these girls and become friends with girls from all over who have the same interests as me in flag football.
“We have our own different playing styles from each province and now going through our meetings, it’s a bit different to learn that. I’m excited to get a whole new view and different things to learn because over these past few weeks, there has been a lot of learning going on.”
The teams will compete at the 2026 Junior International Cup in Los Angeles to give them valuable experience on the international stage.
“(The U.S.) is definitely a strong team and it’s really big there. I think football has been a lot bigger in the States than in Canada. Playing those teams is definitely going to be tough but now that we have girls from all over the country – talented players – we are going to go and have a good, solid tournament,” Michell said.
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