Prince Albert's Ashley Viklund (No. 65) blocks a Regina Riot defender. (Submitted photo/Louis Christ)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Making history

P.A.’s Viklund named to coaching staff to first-ever provincial U18 women’s football squad

Jan 14, 2022 | 8:00 AM

When Ashley Viklund isn’t busy winning Western Women’s Canadian Football League championships with the Saskatoon Valkyries, she’s teaching the game to the youth.

Viklund was named to the provincial coaching staff of the Football Saskatchewan U18 Women’s squad, the first-ever team of its kind. Viklund will serve as the team’s offensive line coach, the same role she has in Prince Albert with the Bantam River Riders.

“It’s a pretty exciting opportunity, and it’s the first national U18 female team that’s going to go, the first competition, so getting to be a part of that, I feel like I get to be a part of history, and I’m honoured by that opportunity.”

When Viklund was growing up, there weren’t programs like this to get involved. In fact, Viklund didn’t start playing football until she was in university, and saw an advertisement for a Regina Riot football camp.

“Having these opportunities younger is really important because it gives people more opportunities in sports, especially females, to learn about sports that typically wouldn’t be available for them, in a place that’s much more comfortable,” Viklund said. “When we have females in sports, we see such very good outcomes for their health, their mental health, their social skills. It’s just incredible that we’re expanding sporting opportunities for young women.”