The Regina Riot were supposed to be focused solely on preparing to host the WWCFL Cross Conference Final this week. Instead, they have found themselves mired in a series of unfortunate circumstances beyond their control. Starting on Sunday evening with the theft of a vehicle containing the team’s jerseys, and continuing later in the week with a change to the game’s scheduled kickoff time, it has been a week of adversity for the Riot. But the team is refusing to let that distract them.

“We talk about our team culture constantly” said Head Coach Olivier Eddie when asked about the incidents this week. “We focus on purposeful and intentional actions, and have built a culture around our responses and what we can control.”

It’s a culture that has lead the Riot to their first undefeated regular season in organization history heading into this week’s playoff matchup.

“These unforeseen events… we don’t control any of these” continued Eddie. “I’m especially proud of our athletes this week and how they have focused on their responses and doing the absolute best with every single curveball that has been thrown at the them. They have responded in a way that unifies us.”

In response to the stolen jerseys, media outlets within Regina worked with the Riot to help spread the message and help locate the jerseys. The Regina football community also stepped up, with multiple teams offering up their jerseys for the Riot to wear for the remainder of their season.

“The support of the Regina community has been excellent” said Olivier. “The media, our fans, and the general population have taken the time to bring awareness to our story and it makes us feel supported and loved. Other teams in our league have reached out, as well as many local teams in Regina. We appreciate all of that.”

And yet, with all of this adversity thrown their way, there is still a game to play this Sunday. The Edmonton Storm will be coming to town having narrowly defeated the Lethbridge Steel last weekend in the Western Conference Semi-Final. It’s the first time the Riot & Storm will have met up this season.

“Edmonton has a good team,” said the Head Coach. “I think they will come out with great energy. It’s our job to go out there, score first, and gain momentum. We’re coming off of a bye week and it will be important for us to play well right out of the gate.”

And when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what jerseys the Riot are wearing this weekend.

“Our team understands that come Sunday, it doesn’t matter whether we wear yellow, blue, red, orange or black” said Eddie. “We’re stepping onto the field with one mindset: to earn our spot in the WWCFL Championship.”

The WWCFL Cross Conference Final takes place on Sunday, June 17^th at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff has been moved to 3pm. Tickets are available at the door or online.

If you have any information that could lead to the return of the Regina Riot’s stolen jerseys, please send it to reginariotfootball@gmail.com.

In 2011, the football rivalry between Saskatoon and Regina saw a new addition with the formation of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League and two of it’s founding teams: the Regina Riot and the Saskatoon Valkyries.

Things started off as you might expect based on the recent football history of the two cities, with Saskatoon taking an early advantage in the rivalry. Eight year Regina Riot veteran Trisha Jattansingh explains:

“The Valkyries came into the WWCFL already a powerhouse. They were miles ahead of any other team in the league. I remember the first game we played against them, we were beaten 62 – 2. I still remember that feeling.”

It was like this a lot over the ensuing seasons, as the Valkyries racked up four consecutive WWCFL Championships. The Riot eventually improved to the point of being able to beat their provincial rivals occasionally during the regular season, but never when it mattered.

That changed in 2015.

“Beating the Valkyries to advance to the WWCFL Championship in 2015 was a really great moment” recalls Riot Head Coach Olivier Eddie. “The Valkyries were almost able to execute an incredible comeback, but we were able to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal with seconds remaining.”

This victory seemed to signal a turning point in the rivalry between the two teams. Beginning that year, the Riot & Valkyries have alternated WWCFL Championship wins. Since that time, neither team has managed a clean sweep of the other during the course of a single season.

Second year Regina Riot player Aly Bell provides a unique perspective on the rivalry, having spent two seasons with the Saskatoon Valkyries as well. She outlines the similarities between the two programs that make them such great rivals:

“A big part of the Riot/Valkyries rivalry stems from how elite both programs have become. Athletes from both programs train year round to better themselves on the field. Players on both sides are passionate, smart and dedicated. They work their butts off. They’re all elite athletes, and no athlete likes to lose.”

But there are differences between the two teams as well.

“My experiences between the two teams are incomparable” continues Bell. “I learned the game and fell in love with it during my first two seasons with the Valkyries. The culture in Saskatoon is just completely different than the culture here with the Riot. It’s not a bad thing. One isn’t better than the other. It’s just different.”

And Bell is happy she made the jump.

“Coming to Regina for my third season was a tough decision, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I was able to adjust to the culture immediately. The coaches here are top notch. I was able to learn the game through a completely different set of eyes and from different coaching styles, which only bettered me as a player.”

In 2018, the Riot remain one step ahead of their toughest competitors. The reigning WWCFL Champions were able to go into Saskatoon three weeks ago and hand the Valkyries at 28 – 7 loss on their home field.

“I have seen the rivalry evolve over our 8 years in the league” explains Jattansingh. “We are no longer chasing the Valks, trying to catch up to them. Now we’re the ones being chased.”

Regina hopes to sustain their recent success when the two teams meet again this weekend with first place in the Prairie Conference on the line. That game takes place on Sunday, June 3^rd at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is at 2pm. Tickets are available online or at the door.

The Winnipeg Wolfpack have had to cancel their trip to Regina to play the Riot this weekend due to unforeseen circumstances. The two teams were scheduled to play at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday afternoon in what would have been the Riot’s home opener. Instead the Wolfpack will forfeit the game, bringing Regina’s record to 3-0.

The Riot’s home opener will now take place against the Saskatoon Valkyries on Sunday, June 3rd at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff will be at 2pm. Tickets will be available at the door as well as online.

The Regina Riot opened up their regular season schedule this past weekend by traveling to Winnipeg to play the Manitoba Fearless. The two teams are familiar with each other already this year, having met the weekend prior in Regina in a preseason game. The Riot were able to come away with a narrow victory in that contest, winning by a final score of 22 – 17.

That even level of play continued throughout the first quarter of action in Winnipeg on Saturday, as the Riot and Fearless went into the first quarter break tied up 7-7. It wasn’t until the second quarter where the Riot were able to pull ahead and never look back. This was thanks in large part due to the play of quarterback Aimee Kowalski. She would throw four touchdowns in the second quarter, and follow that up with one more in the second half as she led the Riot to a victory with a final score of 56 – 14.

“We started a bit slow on offense,” explained Head Coach Olivier Eddie after the game, “but we never really doubted that we would be able to bounce back. Aimee went 9 of 10 throwing the ball in the second and third quarters and put up 5 TDs. Our run game also kicked it into gear and we ended the game with 8 different ball carriers combining for 230 yards on the ground.”

It was an especially impressive outing for the Regina Riot’s young receivers, as second year player Jenna Koller hauled in three touchdowns and third year player Hope Jordens caught one as well. Fourth year player Rachelle Smith caught Kowalski’s fifth touchdown, and reigning Team MVP Carmen Agar was able to score one on the ground.

The Regina Riot defense, which was revamped in the offseason, also played well.

“We executed our new defense fairly well,” said Eddie. “We expected to make a few mistakes early on, but I’m proud of the group and how we progressed throughout the game.” The Riot’s stop unit also contributed offensively, scoring two touchdowns off of turnovers.

With their first victory of the season in the books, the Riot now turn their attention toward their first matchup of the season against their provincial rival Saskatoon Valkyries. The Riot holds a slight 5-4 record advantage against the Valkyries over the past three seasons, but the team knows that won’t help them this weekend.

“We know how good they are,” said Eddie when asked about the upcoming game. “This rivalry game could go anyway. It’s our job to make sure that we are prepared for the challenge.”

The Riot & Valkyries will square off in Saskatoon on Saturday, May 12^th at Griffiths Stadium. Kickoff is at 8:00pm.

In the lead up to the 2018 regular season, we’ll be taking a closer look at certain Regina Riot players both on-and-off the field in our new series, 10 Questions. In our final instalment, we learn more about defensive back Mira Trebilcock.

 

1. You are a hockey player who decided to start playing football. What was it about football that made you want to pursue that as well?

I had spent 4 years in the Chicago, Illinois attending university and playing NCAA hockey and soccer. Upon graduating it became clear that there are very few opportunities for women to continue competing in elite sports, especially in Western Canada. I was excited to try football, a staple within the American culture, yet something I never thought I would have the opportunity to play. Originally, I joined the Riot to learn a new sport and to be able to compete at an elite level again. I’ve since learned that football is one of the most dynamic sports, from the depth of the playbook to the breadth of the players who play the game. Moreover, I am very proud to be a member of the Riot, as female athletes I think it’s part of our responsibility to serve as positive ambassadors and leaders for young females in our community. Young girls can grow up watching and learning that their passion for sport is encouraged, even stereotypical ‘male’ sports like football.

 

2. What is the biggest difference between playing hockey and playing football?

On the surface, almost everything is different. After all, one sport is played on ice and the other is played on a big grassy field – with the most obvious difference being the fact that football requires hitting, something that is penalized in women’s hockey. But, as I continue learning more about football some striking similarities have emerged. Hockey and football both require spacial recognition, anticipation, physicality and aggressiveness. Players on both sides of the ball have certain responsibilities depending on their respective positions and strategic efforts are used to score and prevent the other team from scoring points.

 

3. You’ve been starting at safety for the Riot for a number of years. What is the biggest challenge of playing the safety position?

I am very fortunate that I had the opportunity to play safety in my very first season in 2015 and continue in that same position 3 years later. It’s a fun position. I think the biggest challenges are awareness and adaptability. Awareness of what’s happening on the field, with the opposition and with your own defence – and then being vocal about it. Everyone is in front of you – you’ve got to be confident and knowledgeable about what you’re seeing. No matter the defensive scheme, being smart and athletic has certainly made it easier to adapt if a play call is missed or something unexpected happens – as a safety you can be an athlete and make plays. The more a safety knows about the game, including technical terms, coverages, technique – even overall about positions of our team defence, from the linewomen, linebackers and defensive backs – the more reliable she can be, and the more likely she is to help her team succeed.

 

4. Tell me about an interception of yours, or perhaps a near miss, that sticks out in your memory since joining the Riot.

There are 2 that stick out:

One was a terrible miss, in the final regular season game against the Wolf Pack in 2015, their quarterback threw a deep ball and I was in perfect positioning, literally all I had to do was catch it. Instead, the ball rattle first off my hands, then head, then chest and even feet – it hit every part of my body. We were already up a considerable amount at that point in the game, so it provided some comedic relief for everyone, but it certainly made me practice my catching a little more, which has helped in bringing in more interceptions since.

The second was an interception against the Fearless in a conference semi-final game in 2015. The play before the interception we had executed a ‘spin’ on defence perfectly resulting in a big hit and some yards lost for their offence. The next play they threw it up and I was able to bring it in and return it in for a pick-6 and the first touch-down of the game/of the 2015 playoffs. I thought it helped me redeem the comedy of that ball hitting every part of my body.

 

5. If you could only pick one player as the funniest on the entire team, who would it be?

There are a lot of different personalities on our team that contribute to the unique dynamic we have. I always look to Stacey, Turner or Jenna to keep things light or to get a good laugh in at practice, even between plays.

 

6. Explain to me the camaraderie and friendship that develops on a team like the Riot.

Winning teams have a well-honed sense of camaraderie that helps team members read one another’s signals, move as one, and watch each other’s back. Players on the Regina Riot are very welcoming, and happy to help one-another other learn the game and grow as players. This attitude helps to cultivate a strong sense of affiliation and pride, which ultimately makes team members of the Riot feel a shared sense of commitment and connection – it’s a culture we want to continue building stronger every year. My teammates and coaches have become some of my closest friends, leaders and mentors. We joke around that the Riot is your second family, because during season you spend so much time together. I think when the Riot is the most successful is when we share a deep sense of affiliation and friendship on and off the field. The more people value their relationships with one another, the better they will perform for one another and thus the team as a whole.

 

7. How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t playing hockey or football?

When I am not playing football or hockey I work as a Development Officer for the Hounds at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, SK. I help to build and facilitate the relationship between the high school and its vast community to help fundraise for the college. I am also working to complete my Master of Science in Sport Management at the University of Regina. I am a huge advocate for athletics and growing the game, especially for female athletes so I try to help out with the Female Midget AAA hockey team at Notre Dame any chance I can. With a hectic schedule, I do value any chance I get to spend with those closest to me, my family and friends -whether it’s a weekend brunch or catching up while playing on the ODR.

8. What is your favourite moment in a Regina Riot jersey?

June 28, 2015.

 

9. How has playing for the Riot helped you grow as a person?

Being part of a team is about being a part of something bigger than yourself. As much as I love to win and simply be competitive, it’s the notion of being able to challenge myself in a different area of my life, and make myself just a little bit uncomfortable that has provided me with great opportunities to develop on and off the field. Playing for the Riot has been a privilege that has positively impacted many areas of my life, helping me grow as an athlete, a professional and a steward within the community.

 

10. Where do you think the Regina Riot are headed in 2018 and beyond?

The Regina Riot have seen immense growth, even throughout the three, going on four years I have been involved with the organization. Winning two championships certainly helps to establish the success of the program but it also cultivates a culture that people want to be a part of. It’s helped us recruit more athletes and more coaches with very diverse and experienced backgrounds who share the same values and goals that we aim to fulfill. It’s helped us form partnerships with medical staff and local organizations like Ovarian Cancer Canada, Mr. Mikes, AGT Foods and Evolution Fitness.

Through these partnerships and our involvement in the community, the Regina Riot is certainly becoming a familiar name that carries very positive connotations. The Riot acts as a powerful platform that unifies tenacity and drives action for female athletes in a sport that shares the exact same rules, regulations and equipment as the male version of the sport – the only difference is the gender of the athletes who play it. I think the Riot drives action for gender empowerment while celebrating the social and cultural achievements of athletes, coaches, business people and students within our community. I believe there is a very bright future ahead for the team and all those involved with it – beginning with a back-to-back championship in 2018.