The U18 Women’s National Football Championships kick-off in Ottawa this weekend, and Team Saskatchewan is looking to improve on last year’s 2nd place finish in Regina at the inaugural event.  

The games themselves start Sunday, with New Brunswick playing Quebec. Team Saskatchewan, which includes Weyburn’s Ella Schenher, will open play in a rematch of the finals from last year when they take on Alberta at 11:00 a.m. Sunday.

Schenher, who is also known for her exploits in hockey and lacrosse, is coming off the 2022 minor football league season where she was named the MVP in the Moose Jaw Minor Football league, the second player from Weyburn to receive the honour, and the first female to receive the honour in the league’s history.  

From there, who Saskatchewan will play on the second game day of the tournament, Next Wednesday, will depend on the results of the opening games. The tournament finishes next Saturday with the finals, with the bronze and gold medal games being played.  

This year, the teams are split into two divisions of teams after the opening day of play, which determines the seeding for the semi-finals and finals.