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Sun/Thunder Canadian Bowl

By Blake Roberts, 11/10/22, 6:45AM PST

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This Saturday’s Canadian Bowl at Mosaic Stadium marks the first time the Okanagan Sun will face the Regina Thunder. The Sun will be hoping for a better result than the previous times it has played a team from Regina. The Sun played the former Regina Rams, now a member of USPORT, four times, losing all four games, twice in Regina, and twice at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna.

We spoke with Frank McCystal, while he was vacationing in Costa Rica, who was head coach of the Rams for those four wins mentioned above. He remembered those games fondly.

“We had such good times with that organization. We had their number, yeah we never lost but most of them were such good games. Some really, really talented players on both sides of the ball. Especially those games in Kelowna, (1995 western final Rams 11 Sun 8), (1997 Canadian Bowl Rams 23 Sun 20 in overtime). 

“When our organizations got together, to me that's what junior football should be all about. Our board of directors and coaches…so many friendships got formed that remain to this day. I remember that as much as the games I think.”

This Saturday, with the potential for inclement weather added to the home field advantage the Sun will be climbing a steep hill. McCrystal suggests if the weather gets ugly, as it can in November, the proverbial point advantage going into the game could be worth as much as 14 points to the Thunder.

“I know when our team would go out to BC the weather was usually so nice, even in November, the grass was green and flowers were still out. It’s just different in Regina in November. I know the Regina guys will be playing in it as well, but home field weather can be real for sure. The Regina guys won’t be as fazed by it.”

One of McCrystal’s former players wasn’t as sure about the 14 point advantage being that high. A name that BC football fans know well, former BC Lions receiver Jason Clermont, was a key member of the Rams club that played the Sun in 1997 & 1998. Clermont suggested that while home field advantage and weather will be worth something to the Thunder, ultimately it will come down to the athletes on the field and the game plan.

“The ‘97 game was a really good game. They (Sun) had a lot of talent that year. In ‘98 we were just that much better and the scoreboard showed it I think.”

Former VI Raiders head coach Snoop Blokker, who coached in the PFC with the Calgary Colts, also knows the dynamic of playing a Saskatchewan based CJFL club. Blokker suggests that while Saskatchewan weather may or may not give the Thunder an advantage…typical Saskatchewan football will.

“The thing about the weather there this time of the year is it sneaks up on you.

says Blokker, who is the only coach in the history of BC junior football to win a game in Saskatchewan when his Raiders beat the Saskatoon Hilltops in the western final (27-25 in 2008). 

“It can be -8 and sunny in the first half  and by the 3rd quarter it’s 25 below with the wind chill. The Saskatchewan teams are always just a little more mentally prepared for that.”

Additionally, if the speed and physicality of the Sun caught the St. Clair Saints off guard two weeks ago in the national semi-final, the Sun will experience the same effect Saturday according to Blokker.

“The Sun will be punched in the face like they haven’t  been all year. BC always has the athletes to go toe to toe with the Saskatchewan teams, honestly their best athletes are often better because of the recruiting across country.  But Regina will be so solid, so fundamentally sound and well coached across the board”.

This could be a difference maker according to Blokker.

“The Sun can’t afford to get behind and they can’t panic if they do. They will have to run the ball and match up physically.”

For his part, Sun head coach Travis Miller agrees with both Blokker’s and McCrystal’s assessment of the task ahead of his team, at least to a degree.

“The thing is, PFC football, at least Saskatchewan football, is the gold standard for junior football in this country. You have to beat Saskatchewan if you want to win a national championship. That’s a fact every year.

The fact that such a large percentage (approx. 60%) of the Sun roster has been recruited from the prairies and knows this type of weather will help the Sun somewhat.

“It’s not that it won’t faze them, some of these guys have been living in BC for a couple years now so they are more used to BC, but they have played in it. It might throw the Ontario guys a bit, we will see.

“But at the end of the day it's football. The Thunder are playing in the same thing. Our guys have battled through adversity and some injuries all year, they will be ready.”

The Sun appeared to have had a quiet confidence going into the national semi-final last week in Windsor. The players muted post game celebration gave the impression they had little doubt going in what the outcome would be. 

This game is different according to Miller.

“This is the prairies, this is playing Saskatchewan in a national championship. This is what this is all about for our organization.”

For the fans sake, Frank McCrystal hopes weather doesn’t play a role and suggests fans will be in for a treat regardless of which team wins if mother nature stays out of the way.

“This should be a good one. I wish I was there to see it. I remember our games against the Sun, there was a mystique about those games for both our teams I think., I’m not sure if the Thunder and Sun look at it the same way or not, but it was there for us I think.”

 

Game History/notes

 

  • Sun/Rams history

    • 1987 western final Rams 43 Sun 23 in Regina (Rams won national championship)

    • 1985 western final Rams 11 Sun 8 in Kelowna (Rams won national championship)

    • 1997 Canadian Bowl Rams 23 Sun 20 in Kelowna. (only Canadian Bowl to go to overtime)

    • 1998 Canadian Bowl Rams 36 Sun 13 in Regina

  • The game winning touchdown with 16 seconds to play in the 1997 Canadian Bowl was scored by Jason Clermont

  • The Sun are actually 0-6 in Saskatchewan. The club has also lost western finals to the Hilltops (1991, 1996, 2002) as well as the Canadian Bowl in 2015. The Sun is 3-1 when playing the Hilltops at the Apple Bowl.

  • Previous Canadian Bowl wins

    • Sun 50 Burlington Tigercats 0 (1988)

    • Sun 36 Saskatoon Hilltops 28 (2000)

    • Thunder 55 VI Raiders 26 (2013)

  • The Sun arrive in Regina on Thursday and will practice at Mosaic Stadium Thursday & Friday.

  • The CJFL All Canadian team will be announced at the banquet of champions Friday night. Thunder head coach Scott MacAulay, Sun head coach Travis Miller and Ottawa Sooners head coach Kevin Ling are the nominees.

1997 Canadian Bowl on You Tube