Max Gubbe and Levi Koenig pictured here in their Team Sask jerseys for the 2022 Football Canada U16 West Challenge. (Submitted photo/Max Gubbe)

By Martin Martinson

Representing Sask

Vikings duo primed for U16 West Challenge championship game

Jul 5, 2022 | 10:00 AM

A pair of North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS) Vikings are a game away from a gold medal.

Levi Koenig and Max Gubbe are each in their first year competing with Team Saskatchewan at the 2022 Football Canada West U16 Challenge, held this year in Langley, B.C. Facing teams from each of the other western provinces, Team Saskatchewan won their opening game 49-23 over Team Manitoba on Sunday to advance to the gold medal game, where they will meet B.C., who topped Alberta 22-17.

Saskatchewan’s road to the final wasn’t without overcoming adversity. Tied 14-14 at halftime of their opener, Koenig, a Grade 9 running back from NBCHS, said it was the team’s ability to regroup quickly that led to their eventual success.

“We started the first quarter a little rough with a fumble and a couple two-and-out drives, but we got the boys together at half time, got a good talk from the coaches and started to play Saskatchewan football in the second half,” he said.

With top players at the U16 age group from across the province together on the Saskatchewan team, Koenig said it’s been a special experience to be a part of.

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“It’s good to know that you can come from anywhere to be on the big stage,” he said. “It would be amazing to win the gold, but we’ve still got to put in the work.”

“The job’s not done, but if we can pull it off and take home the gold, it will be a good feeling just knowing the hard work paid off.”

Grade 8 Max Gubbe, who plays defensive end with Team Sask, called it a great learning experience to be part of the provincial program, having just begun playing football last September when he tried out for the Vikings.

“I actually originally tried out for kicker for the high school team, but we didn’t have enough line d-linemen, so I kind of just got put there and the rest as they say is history,” Gubbe said with a laugh. “I just took to it really fast and now here I am, so it’s a huge experience for me personally.”

He said being able to share the experience with a good friend and teammate in Koenig adds a special element as well.

“Me and Levi are really good buddies, so when we found out we were going to the West Challenge we were pretty pumped to be representing North Battleford,” Gubbe said. “We’re looking forward to this gold medal game.”

The gold medal game between Saskatchewan and B.C., will be played Wednesday (July 6) at 8:00 p.m. Saskatchewan time, and will be available for streaming on the Football Canada Youtube channel.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1