Tisdale Tornados duo set for U18 National Championship

Jun 15, 2026 | 5:24 PM

A pair of Tisdale Tornados will be making their National Championship debuts late next month.

Avalene van Haastert and Aubree Johnson have been selected by Team Saskatchewan to compete in the U18 Women’s National Tackle Football Championship.

“I’m super excited, it’s going to be a super cool opportunity and a lot of fun. I’m really happy that Aubree and I are going to get to do this together because it’s just a great opportunity to grow and bring back to our own football team in Tisdale. We’re gonna learn a lot of skills and develop more as players, so I’m just super excited to get to be a part of this team,” explained van Haastert.

“I’m really just hoping to have a good time and show my skills as a player that our coaches have instilled in us in Tisdale. I have no idea how this tournament will play out, but I am really excited to find out. I’m hoping we do well, and I think everyone is committed to doing so.”

The championship will see teams from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick, as well as a National Indigenous team.

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The event is set to take place from July 20 to July 29 and will be held at Leibel Field in Regina.

“I’m one of the younger girls to make the team, so I was honestly pretty shocked. I had some of the older girls in the Tornados program pushing me, and I’m really glad they did. They’re all really supportive and make sure that I do my best so I can succeed. I have another three possible years of making the team again, and I know I won’t be as strong as the older girls this first year, but I’ll be doing my best to show I belong,” added Johnson.

“I hang out with a lot of kids a little older than me, and they’re the ones who got me into football. It seemed like a cool thing to do, and I haven’t looked back since… I know this tournament will be a bit of an adjustment as a six-man format versus a nine-man format, but I played six-man when I was younger, so I think I’ll be ready to go.”

van Haastert is expecting to continue playing as a linebacker in the event, while Johnson will be switching from linebacker to safety.

The two are eager to learn as much as they can, in hopes of also obtaining a gold medal, while returning to the Tornados in the fall with newfound knowledge and skills, and coming back in tip-top form.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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by Ben Tompkins

Tisdale Tornados duo set for U18 National Championship

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