Prince Albert's Ashley Viklund (No. 65) blocks a Regina Riot defender. (Submitted photo/Louis Christ)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Victorious Viklund

P.A.’s Viklund ready to repeat as Western Women’s Football champion

Jul 10, 2021 | 10:00 AM

While at the University of Regina over a decade ago, Prince Albert’s Ashley Viklund saw a flyer that would change her life.

It was advertising for a Learn Football camp from one of the coaches of the Regina Riot of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL). Viklund always wanted to play football as a younger woman in Prince Albert but didn’t want to play against big high school dudes, so she rushed at the opportunity to pick up the sport.

“I absolutely fell in love and have been playing ever since. It’s taken me a long way,” Viklund said. “From having never played, I’ve played for Team Saskatchewan twice, I played for Team Canada in 2017. It’s been a pretty great ride.”

Viklund has now played in the WWCFL for the past 10 years, and has played every position on the offensive line in that time. She’ll be playing left guard in her third season with the defending champions Saskatoon Valkyries and commutes from Prince Albert for games and practices. Those games start on Saturday against the Regina Riot— Viklund’s former team. The two teams will meet again in Saskatoon on July 16.

Viklund was a part of the storied 2019 Valkyries team that won a very emotional WWCFL championship. Just before the Valkyries were set to play their final regular-season game, they learned assistant coach Justin Filteau was killed in a plane crash a day prior. Viklund remembers how the team rallied and dedicated their championship and dominant season for him.

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“I think we might not put the hashtag out there as much this year, the #ForFilteau, but it’s still very much in our hearts that we’re keeping Justin in minds and we’re still wanting to make him proud and show him what we can do,” Viklund said. “It was really important to us to go 9-0 for him and win the championship. His dad [Ron] was able to be at that game and receive the trophy with us. That was a really special moment.”

In their championship year, the Valkyries outscored their opposition 298-23 and were dominant each game. Their championship final was a 25-3 victory over the Riot.

Viklund said the team looks good again this year, with veterans returning and new recruits being welcomed in. Although the team will have a quick turnaround this year from zoom meetings to fewer practices than a usual year, Viklund believes everybody will be ready.

“We are an elite team and we practice like that. We’re really fortunate to have some very strong coaches on our coaching staff that can really lead us and guide us to learning the systems well, doing things well, and putting the time into getting it right,” Viklund said. “Once you understand the game of football and have that great coaching, the rest can get a heck of a lot easier.”

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW