While everyone in Moose Jaw watched the snow fall throughout the day Sunday with trepidation, Moose Jaw high school soccer commissioner Ray Rawlyk was especially concerned.
With the Central Cyclones set to host the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association 4A boys provincial championship this coming weekend, the near foot of snow had turned the two Canada Games Fields at YaraCentre virtually unplayable.
“I had some sleepless nights, as soon as that snow started falling we were in trouble,” Rawlyk said. “Then I visited the field and there was no way teams could play in that, so it wasn’t looking good at all.”
Thing is, right next to that now snow-covered plain is a state-of-the-art indoor fieldhouse, and no sooner did Rawlyk survey the winter wonderland than did he start making a few phone calls.
Not long after, problem solved -- the entire tournament would be played indoors at YaraCentre, going from a near impossible-to-play quagmire to perfect conditions in an instant.
“I phoned the city and they were just totally receptive to the idea and they made it work,” said Rawlyk, who lauded Moose Jaw recreation services manager Scott Osmachenko and recreation program supervisor Nicole Walchuk for their accommodation and effort to fit things in.
“There wasn’t too much going on inside, so they were able to swap things out and the whole tournament is now indoors away from the weather… so provincials are still happening, but it took a lot of good people to make this thing work.”
The alternative most certainly wasn’t pleasant. With the ground still soft on the fields, using any heavy equipment to remove the snow would have left tread marks and damaged the grass. Regular snowblowers just weren’t practical with the heavy, wet snow.
That would have meant playing in brutal conditions -- a deep snow-covered field combined with melting, thick slush would have made things exceptionally nasty and unsafe.
“So we would have found a way to make do, but it wouldn’t have been very good for anyone involved,” Rawlyk said.
Instead, teams will now find themselves playing in perfect conditions when the first game kicks off at YaraCentre at 12 p.m. on Friday. That in itself is a new wrinkle to the whole thing, as the turf surface will make for an exceptionally fast game
“The thing about turf is because it’s so fast, it brings out the skills more, where if we were playing in the snowdrifts, if you were big and tough and tall you’d probably win the game,” Rawlyk said. “So this is the way that it should be.”
The four-team tournament opens with Central taking on Chief John Keenatch -- formerly See See Wa Hum -- during the aforementioned 12 p.m. game, followed by Martensville facing Yorkton Sacred Heart in the other semifinal at 2 p.m.
The Cyclones will be going into their match-up with Chief Keenatch a bit blind, having not faced them this season. One thing that Rawlyk knows is they’ll bring a well-conditioned team with plenty of size, making them a tough opponent at any time.
Martensville is also an unknown, while Yorkton Sacred Heart had a handful of close games with the Cyclones this season and finished second to Central at regionals last weekend.
The winners advance to the gold medal final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, with the losers dropping to the consolation side and playing for bronze at 11 a.m.
For more information from the SHSAA 4A boys provincial tournament, be sure to visit www.shsaa.ca.
