Expectations never change for CJFL powerhouse Hilltops

Saskatoon starts 2019 regular season Sunday in Winnipeg

Ben Abrook (#32) will bring power as a starting running back.

    The Saskatoon Hilltops aim to consistently be the model premier team in the Canadian Junior Football League.
    Due to their push to do thing perfectly all the time, the Hilltops have won the last five straight CJFL titles and have captured the league crown eight times over the last nine years. They have put together this run despite the regular yearly turnover on their roster.

    Going into the 2019 campaign, the Hilltops have experience more turnover than normal due to fifth-year graduations and players leaving to join the university ranks. The Hilltops begin the 2019 regular season by traveling to Winnipeg, Man., to take on the host Rifles on Sunday (noon Saskatchewan time, 92.9 The Bull).

    Saskatoon will have a new starting quarterback fifth-year signal caller Tyler Hermann, a new starting running back in third-year runner Ben Abrook and many new starters on defence.

    Despite the changing faces, Hermann knows what is expected of himself and his teammates.

    “The expectations stay the same,” said Hermann. “We expect to come out Week 1 and throughout the season coming out as a physical team and ready to play really with mental focus and discipline.

    “There has been a lot of turnover, but the attitude around here has always been next man up. I know everyone that is stepping into a (new) role is ready to make it count and myself included.
    “It is going to be a good season.”

Carter Norrish is expected to take a regular role at receiver.

    Hermann, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds, joined the Hilltops after playing for Saskatoon’s powerhouse Holy Cross High School Crusaders football program. During his first two years with the Hilltops, Hermann studied how star quarterback Jared Andreychuk performed as the team’s starter.

    Over the last two seasons, Hermann improved on his craft playing behind star quarterback Jordan Walls.

    Now, the 22-year-old Hermann is set to take his turn as the starting quarterback for the venerable CJFL club. He said the influence of Andreychuk and Walls is a big help.

    “Without a doubt, they (Andreychuk and Walls) taught me a tonne on the field between reading a defence and where to go with the ball,” said Hermann. “From those two guys, I got to be great friends with them.

    “They really taught me how to be a winner off the field and really how to carry yourself when things aren’t going as well as you hoped. That is kind of something that I have taken from those guys. It has been a privilege playing with them.”

    Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the squad’s coaching are looking forward to seeing Hermann lead the team.

    “We’re very excited for Tyler (Hermann),” said Sargeant. “He is four years in the waiting.

    “He is hungry for this, and he has been waiting for this. Now he is getting all the reps, and you can just see the confidence and the growth. It is still comes down to decision making.

Tyler Hermann will make his first QB start.

    “When the games get live, he has to stay calm and cool. He has to trust himself and trust us. He had a lot of success as a Holy Cross quarterback, and we’re ready for him to have some success as a Hilltop quarterback.”
    The Hilltops open the 2019 campaign with what would appear a rocky schedule at the start with three straight road regular season games. After playing the Rifles in Winnipeg on Sunday, the Hilltops travel to Regina to face the Thunder on Aug. 25 and to Edmonton to take on the Huskies on Sept. 1.

    The Hilltops home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    “The schedule is the schedule,” said Sargeant. “We don’t control that.

    “At the end of the day, we get to develop our roster right off the bat, because you take your travel roster (of 45 players) with you. Winnipeg is a tough trip. It is a long haul, and they play real physical down there.

    “We can’t be half asleep. We have to be sharper. I think the coaches have done a good job preparing for that.”

    The Hilltops enter the campaign looking to keep a couple of lengthy winning streaks on the line. They have won their last 23 straight games on the road including three victories in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

    Saskatoon’s last road loss came back on August 17, 2014 by a 19-16 overtime decision to the Thunder in Regina at a stadium that no longer exists in Taylor Field.

    The Hilltops have won their last 19 overall games in a row. Sargeant said the winning streaks won’t give the Hilltops that much help in the present.

The Hilltops are looking to be physical on defence.

    “That was then, and this is now,” said Sargeant. “We are a totally different team.

    “We had a lot of good players who have left the building. We need new players to step up and be good players, so that takes time.”

    During the regular season in 2018, Hermann completed 19-of-26 passes for 264 yards, five touchdowns and one interception entering games in mop up duty. He is pumped to hit the field in the present as a starter.

    “Four years, it has kind of been a long time coming for me,” said Hermann. “I’m really excited for the opportunity.

    “I have a unit of guys around me that are ready to support me and also contribute and bring something forward. I’m getting excited for Sunday.”

Getzlaf guest speaker at Hilltops End Zone Dinner

Chris Getzlaf on the Taylor Field big screen in 2013.

    A former foe who had a star career in the CFL will be the guest speaker at the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

    Receiver Chris Getzlaf played 11 seasons in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos from 2007 to 2017. The Regina, Sask., product spent most of that time with his hometown Roughriders.

    Over his 11 campaigns, Getzlaf appeared in 147 regular season games hauling in 414 passes for 6,192 yards and 41 touchdowns.

    Before joining the CFL, Getzlaf played two seasons for the University of Regina Rams in 2005 and 2006. Before his time with the Rams, Getzlaf played with the Regina Thunder, when the team was still know as the Prairie Thunder.
    The Prairie Thunder name was last used in the 2004 CJFL campaign. 

    As a member of the Thunder, Getzlaf used to play against the Hilltops.

Chris Getzlaf makes a training camp catch in 2015.

    When he was a member of the Roughriders, he was a fan favourite right across Saskatchewan. Throughout his football career, Getzlaf was known as the quiet type who led by example.

    The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7 at Saskatoon Minor Football field. The gates open at 4:15 p.m. and the meal is served at 5:15 p.m. The dinner will include a silent auction.

    Tickets are $100 per single person or a table of nine can be purchased for $825.

    Tickets to the dinner also include game tickets to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and the Thunder. There will be a pre-game address at the End Zone Dinner by Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant.

    Those looking to purchase tickets can do so by clicking right here.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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