The Okanagan Sun will play a part in making Canadian Junior Football League history in 2016.
For the first time ever, two regular season interconference games will be played between the BCFC and Prairie Football Conferences.
On Saturday, September 17th, the Sun will host the Saskatoon Hilltops in a regular season encounter at the Apple Bowl.
The two teams last met in November in the 2015 Canadian Bowl in Saskatoon.
The last time the Sun and Hilltops played in Kelowna was in the national championship game in 2000.
The other interconference game will be feature the Valley Huskers at home to the Winnipeg Rifles.
Both games will count in the regular season standings.
“I think it shows there`s a real benefit to be part of the CJFL,” says CJFL Commissioner Jim Pankovich. “The teams in B.C. and the teams in the Prairies, play each other in their regular seasons, but what if we included some interconference games?
“We wanted to look at some really competitive matches, not just necessarily the first and second place teams but right through the entire depth of each conference.
“It’s a really interesting concept and a really interesting idea to bring forward because of the excitement and interest it can create.”
In the case of the Hilltops and Sun, they have faced each other nine times since 1988, the Hilltops winning five of those matches. All eight of the previous games were part of a national playoff, whether it was for the Canadian Bowl or a national semi-final game.
If these games are successful with fan support, the CJFL will look at more interconference Games next season.
