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The Regina Thunder are out in B.C. to try and bring home the organization’s second national championship.
The Prairie Football Conference champions will take on the B.C. champion Westshore Rebels in the 118th Canadian Bowl today.
Read more:
- Trophy trouble: Hilltops apologize to Thunder for PFC championship game blunder
- Regina Thunder pulls away from Sasktoon Hilltops, claims PFC title
- Peter Boersch rushes for 340 yards as Thunder win PFC semifinal
The Thunder last won the Canadian Junior Football League national championship back in 2013.
Regina earned the right to play for the title this season after defeating the Saskatoon Hilltops in the PFC championship game. The Thunder then went out to Ontario and beat the Sault Ste. Marie Cougars in the national semifinal game.
One of the biggest weapons for the Thunder today will be running back Peter Boersch. Boersch was the CJFL’s top running back this season, recording 1,327 yards and four touchdowns. Boersch has also been doing double duty, practising with the Saskatchewan Roughriders all season.
Thunder offensive co-ordinator Paul Tokarz said giving the ball to Boersch is probably the best play call that he has available.
“One of our alumni was giving it to me because I came down from the press box, and he was chirping me a little bit, and he said, ‘What were you deciding up there on that second-and-two — Peter-right or Peter-left?’ It’s an awesome thing to have,” Thunder offensive co-ordinator Paul Tokarz told The Green Zone.
“I was his high school (offensive co-ordinator) as well. It’s probably been the best play I have had over the past four years calling players. He is that special, and deserves all those touches.”
Tokarz said he’s proud of the offensive line players who have stepped up this season due to injuries.
“They really are playing five-as-one. Four new starters on the offensive line coming into the season, so we knew this was going to be a group that was going to improve,” Tokarz said.
“These guys really committed themselves, not just to the individual, but to each other.”
This will be the first time the two teams have ever faced each other.
Tokarz said it’s tricky getting ready for an unknown opponent, much like the Thunder did against the Cougars.
“It takes a lot, especially the way our schedule was after the PFC final. We played on a Sunday and then have to fly out the following Friday to play in a Saturday game. It’s a short week. I know it’s one day, but every hour counts when you are playing a new opponent,” Tokarz said.
“Won a championship around four or five o’clock and then had some pizza and maybe a Coca-Cola or two, and then started breaking down the film around 7:30 p.m. and stayed there until 1 a.m.
“Took the next day off of work and then spent 14 to 16 hours at the clubhouse breaking it down. Little bit by bit, the game plan comes together. You might have had a really good idea on Monday, and then as the week goes on, you see it in practice and how it comes together.”
With a bye week between the semifinal and final, Tokarz admitted a bit of a break was needed.
“Our coaching staff was exhausted, and our players were too. They are playing two championship games within six days. That’s very challenging, and this previous week was awesome. We got a day off from being on our normal schedule,” Tokarz said.
“We still practised and still broke them all down, but this week is a bit of a bonus week to refine and polish the game plan and really go into this championship game as crisp and tight as we can.”
Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m.
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