Approximately 225 northern students and coaches were in Regina last week. (Submitted photo/Ryan Karakochuk)
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Northern athletes back from Regina football camp featuring Saskatchewan Roughriders

Jun 14, 2022 | 2:46 PM

It was a unique opportunity for hundreds of northern students and football coaches who travelled to Regina last week to learn alongside the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The five-day trip began June 8 when nine teams from the Northern Saskatchewan Football League, including La Ronge’s Churchill Chargers and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Senator Myles Venne School Huskies, arrived in the Queen City for the league’s annual Football Jamboree. In all, 225 players and coaches from the north attended the event.

“We always have one every year, but this is the first time we went to Regina,” Northern Sport Culture and Recreation District manager and Creighton Kodiak head coach Ryan Karakochuk said.

He explained they were able to spend time with the University of Regina Rams, as well as visit Mosaic Stadium a learn from players with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“There were no games because a lot of these players are just starting football for the first time, so it was mostly all skills development,” Karakochuk added.

The teams, which were fully-funded by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation to travel to Regina, also took in the Riders home opener on Saturday against the Hamilton Tigercats. In addition, there were motivational speeches, question and answer sessions, and an evening supper provided by Mosaic Stadium.

Karakochuk noted the Football Jamboree is intended for skill development, as well as introduce new players to the league and football.

“It’s a chance for coaches to see some of the newer players and for them to learn skills,” he said. “Come August, we will know who we have as additional players along with senior players and get started the minute school starts in the fall.”

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno

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