Team Sask in inaugural Women's Box Lacrosse game at Summer Games

REGINA - Team Saskatchewan is competing in 18 sports, taking place at 19 different venues across Niagara, for the 2022 Canada Summer Games, which started on August 7. 

Angel Besskkaystare, of Wollaston Lake, led the Saskatchewan contingent of athletes, coaches, managers and support staff into the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games during the opening ceremonies. The energy in the Meridian Centre was palpable with a sold-out crowd of over 5,000 in attendance eagerly awaiting the start of the Games after a one-year delay.

Athletes, coaches, support staff from across the country joined together to celebrate the largest multi-sport games in Canada. The Host Society put on a spectacular event with notable guests such as Catriona Le May Doan, former Games participant and Olympian and the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, who officially declared the 2022 Canada Summer Games open. The ceremonies also featured performances by POESY and Niagara’s own, Tim Hicks.

Over the course of the first day of competition, Team Sask played in the inaugural Women's Box Lacrosse game, Canada’s National summer sport, against Team Manitoba. Family and friends from Saskatchewan filled the stands and cheered loud and hard for the women.

Tehya Redman (Fort Qu’Appelle) from the File Hills Qu’Apelle Tribal Council lead Team Saskatchewan onto the newly built lacrosse boxes at Canada Games Park. “I feel happy and excited that I get to inspire younger youth,” Redman said after the game. “I am happy to be here, it’s a big accomplishment for me.”

Team Sask’s, Sam Riou (Regina) scored the first-ever women’s box lacrosse goal in Canada Games history. Following the game, Riou was presented with the goal-scoring ball for her signature. The ball will be showcased in the Canada Games Hall of Fame.

“When I first stepped out on the floor, I didn’t realize how many people would be there,” said Riou. “I was kind of nervous and had butterflies, but after I got a few touches with the ball I got more comfortable and confident.”

Despite scoring the first-ever goal in Canada Games history, the team lost 5 - 2 to Manitoba.

Team Sask also saw action in baseball, softball, swimming, and tennis on the first day of competition at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• BASEBALL (M) : Team Sask lost a tough one to Team Ontario 10 - 0 in the preliminaries. The bounced back to win 12 - 3 over Team Nova Scotia. The team out hit Nova Scotia 14-7. Team Sask currently sits third in Pool A.
• SOFTBALL (F) : Team Sask blanked team Nova Scotia 7 - 0 in just five innings of play. Team Sask currently sits second in Pool A.
• SWIMMING, PARA SWIMMING, SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Team Sask had five top 10 finishes in the pool. The women and men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay placed seventh, Hannah Ouellette placed eighth in 200m (S1-5,S14) and 400m (S6-13) freestyle para, and Annabel Kolman placed ninth in 1500m freestyle.
• TENNIS: In singles play, Teah Chavez, Isabella Yan, Harry Lin and Keegan Rice won their matches. Women's doubles also had a successful day on the court.