Thunder, Hilltops to square off at Mosaic

It’s a Saskatchewan showdown as the Regina Thunder are set to square off against the Saskatoon Hilltops Saturday evening.

Both teams are undefeated heading into the matchup this season, and the Thunder are looking to continue their regular season dominance — going undefeated in both 2021 and 2022.

“We’re excited, great opportunity to head down to Regina, get to Mosaic and play against a team that last year, certainly had our number,” said Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

“We’ve got a lot to prove to ourselves and lots of work has gone in over the last nine months.”

Sargeant enjoys competing against the Thunder and said that rivalry games are special.

For Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay the feeling is very mutual.

“I’d say the players and the coaches and everybody involved — they’re all excited,” MacAulay said.

“There’s one team that we love to play two or three times a year and that’s the Saskatoon Hilltops and if we could play them every game, we would.”

MacAulay said he appreciates the battles the two teams have had.

“There’s a lot of taunting, a lot of great plays that are made on both sides of the ball,” MacAulay said.

MacAulay spoke highly of his team but also said they weren’t completely firing on all cylinders yet.

“After this week of practice, I’m expecting the boys to come out and be hungry this weekend and put on a good show,” MacAulay said.

Both coaches praised the other’s efforts.

“For us to be sitting at 3-and-0 and for Regina (to be) 3-and-0 something’s got to give,” Sargeant said.

“They’re happy where they’re at, we’re happy where we’re at and we’re all going to learn a lot come Saturday night.”

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.