Gridiron gals grab grass and growl

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This article was published 16/05/2022 (1419 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After nearly three years away from competition, women’s tackle football is officially back.

The COVID-19 pandemic kept the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) from playing a single down since the 2019 season. But the seven-team loop, including the Winnipeg Wolfpack and Manitoba Fearless, are finally off the sidelines.

Both the Wolfpack (0-2) and Fearless (1-1) played their home openers at East Side Eagles Field this past weekend in Week 2 action. The Fearless outlasted the Regina Riot 33-31 while the Wolfpack, who feature 18 new players this season, fell 59-0 to the Saskatoon Valkyries.

“It was most certainly frustrating,” said Fearless centre Andrea Backlund on the layoff.

“It was also difficult because with some other provinces having different restrictions, they were able to keep playing so Saskatchewan, for example, they still had a bit of a season last year because they were able to play inter-provincial games due to their restrictions. We didn’t have that luxury here in Manitoba so we had all that time off.”

“But with that being said, it kind of put everyone on the same playing field that everyone had that time off and everyone had time to rebuild teams a bit. It has made coming back this year that much more awesome, fun, and exciting.”

Despite being out of the picture for so long, the interest in women’s tackle football in town has never been higher. When Backlund got her start with the Fearless seven years ago, they were nowhere close to having a full roster. Backlund would have to play centre, linebacker, and special teams, but thankfully she’s able to catch her breath now as both the Fearless and Wolfpack have close to 40 players each.

“Women’s football is underrated and under celebrated a bit. For being in the WWCFL since 2011, every year, we still get a lot of ‘What? Women’s football?’ And people assume it isn’t tackle. They assume it’s flag or a different iteration of it,” said Wolfpack offensive lineman Adrienne Dudek.

“So, I think the greatest part of coming back to the sport after two years is everyone’s dedication right now. When you don’t have something for a while, everybody is more geared up to play. People have been almost craving something and not just the physical contact, but the camaraderie, the team sport, the environment, as well as just getting out and being active… Football is great for having a sisterhood of strong women of all walks of life that can build you up. I think the youngest player we have is 16 and the oldest player is 54. We have such a variety of women from all walks of life who can come together for one goal.”

The sport is back in more than one way as Football Canada held a senior women’s national team tryout camp earlier this month in Ottawa. It’s the first Team Canada selection camp since the pandemic began. Backlund, Dudek, and Fearless defensive tackle Brooklyn Dyce were among the locals trying to land a spot with the red and white. There were nearly 140 attendees, and the roster will be cut down to 40 sometime this week. Those who make the squad will represent the country at the 2022 World Women’s Football Championships in Finland July 20-Aug. 8.

“It’d be incredible to get the opportunity to play for Team Canada for anything,” said Dyce, the daughter of Ottawa Redblacks special teams coordinator Bob Dyce.

“Women’s football is newer but seeing 136 women try out and seeing the quality of athletes that’s out there from all different backgrounds, whether it be hockey, rugby, soccer, there’s a lot of different incredible athletes and it’d mean a lot to be amongst the group selected to represent Canada at that tournament.”

But before Finland, there will be the Battle of Manitoba. After this week’s league-wide bye, the Wolfpack and Fearless will meet on May 29 at East Side Eagles Field. They’ll play again on June 5 at IG Field.

“We have almost 70 women now between the (Fearless and Wolfpack) and it’s super awesome to see the level of athletes we have to offer in our city,” said Dyce.

“Even my dad, he lives in Ottawa so he came out to the Team Canada tryout a few weeks ago and he was really impressed with the level. He said ‘Wow, do all your games look like this?’ And I mean, it won’t be quite the same level as everybody in the Team Canada games, but I think people would be surprised to see the level that we’re able to perform at.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31