The Winnipeg High School Football League has changed its playoff format. A change was made that added a fourth championship to provide more options for teams to win a ābowlā game.
When you have change, not everyone can be happy. River Eastās Robin Mead summed it up perfectly āI think that there are no perfect formats to make everyone happy.ā
The WHSFLās new format had teams a division higher competing in the playoffs a division under them. On Thursday the fallout of these rules came when the River East Kodiaks āAAā team lost to Sturgeonās āAAAā team 36-9.
Some people have been more frustrated than others but as Ryan Porco said āThere is nothing we can do now but congratulate the teams that made it into the playoffs.ā
Thatās a year that ends on a bit of a sour note especially with a record of 7-1 in the regular season. The Steinbach Sabres will now meet the Sturgeon Heights Huskies. Steinbach had the same record as River East in the regular season but met St.Paulās ‘AA’ team in the semis and beat them to advance.
For the seniors on the Kodiaks it may have been a harder pill to swallow because that could be their last game on a football field.
Coach Mead commented on his seniors, āI hope the seniors leave the program more able to combat the rigours of life, in part,Ā becauseĀ of the program. They left it all on the field, this season. They should be proud with how they played.ā
Ryan Porco added āA lot of our players were hurt. This may be the last game for many of the seniors. I think they all played hard and deserved the chance to make it to the finals.ā
Not everything has been negative about the new format. River Eastās Mead said āI’m not bitter. This format is worth a try. We’ll talk about it as a coaching fraternity, I am sure.ā
So now itās on to the Steinbach Sabres āAAā team to try their luck against the āAAAā Sturgeon Heights Huskies.
Steinbach dominated the St.Paulās Crusaders in the second half of the semis to earn a 31-9 victory and their spot in the Kas Vidruk bowl game.
Does a āAAAā team really belong in the āAAā playoffs? Itās not my judgment to make but Ryan Porco of the River East Kodiaks gave the Sabres some advice.
āAll I can say for the Sabres is that I wish them the best of luck and to prove that a āAAā team has the same chance of winning the finals as a āAAAā team. Show them that the Vidruk division has some strong teams too.ā
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