It wasn't under the circumstances that they wanted but the Sault Sabercats will still get a tune-up on Saturday afternoon in game like conditions.
The Sabercats, a competitive football team comprised of 15 to 19 year-old players, are gearing up for their third season in the highly regarded Ontario Varsity Football League.
The team finished 3-5 in each of their first two years.
The team had originally scheduled an exhibition game for Saturday against the Sudbury Northerners but the Sudbury squad pulled out.
Instead, the Sabercats will host an intrasquad Blue/Gold game on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Bawating.
The test will be their first under game-like conditions in preparation for their season opener next weekend in Sarnia against the Lambton Lions.
The Sabercats will play their first three games on the road before returning for their home opener on June 19 against the Cambridge Lions at Rocky DiPietro Field beginning at 7 p.m.
The team will travel to Hamilton on June 6 and Brantford on June 13.
To visit the Sabercats website, click here. To check out the OVFL website, click here.
*** OFF TO UNIVERSITY:
A pair of Sabercats graduates have accepted offers to play football next season at the Canadian university level.
Ron Kelly, a former OVFL all-star receiver, has also been accepted to St. Mary's University and will continue his academic and athletic career as a Husky.
Kelly, a former Bawating Braves star, received a financial package from SMU and will also be playing basketball for the Huskies.
Kelly has dominated the basketball court at Sault College for the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, running back Josh Gauthier, another Bawating grad, will be looking to make his mark at the University of Windsor.