Love for the game makes Valkyries go

Family feeling and championships result from football bond

The Valkyries celebrate a Grace McCorriston (#82) TD.

The Saskatoon Valkyries love the game of football, and the game has loved them back.

The base commonalty between everyone on Saskatoon’s storied Western Women’s Canadian Football League team is that they love the game. That has allowed players from all sorts of backgrounds to be able to come together.

Ultimately through that initial bond of the love for the game, the family atmosphere on the team developed.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries completed a perfect 7-0 season taking the WWCFL Championship Game 36-6 over the Winnipeg-based Manitoba Fearless. The win marked the seventh time the Valkyries have won the WWCFL title dating back to the team’s and the league’s inaugural season in 2011.

The Valkyries celebrate winning their seventh WWCFL title.

Actually, the last time the Valkyries lost a game was way back on June 24, 2018, when they fell 14-10 to the Riot in Regina at Mosaic Stadium in that year’s WWCFL title game. Since that setback, the Valkyries have won 19 straight games including one contest by forfeit.

The winning streak included capturing the WWCFL crown on June 29, 2019 with a 25-3 victory over the Riot in Regina at Mosaic Stadium. The Valkyries dedicated that perfect 9-0 season to defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a plane crash on June 1, 2019 with that campaign still in progress.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) carries the Valkyries flag to the field.

Filteau’s parents in father, Ron and mother, Nancy, took part in the coin toss before the Valkyries WWCFL title winning game on Saturday and were presented with Justin’s championship ring from 2019.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world, the 2020 and 2021 WWCFL campaigns were cancelled. The Valkyries were able to take the field in 2021 winning every outing in a three-game exhibition series against the Riot.

This season the Valkyries returned to the field with a great mix of veterans and first and second year players. The second-year players all got their first taste playing for the squad in the 2021 exhibition series against the Riot.

Ashley Viklund (#65) locks up on a block for the Valkyries.

The fact that so many veterans returned after two years of not playing an actual regular season or post-season games speaks highly to the culture on the team. On top of loving the game, the family atmosphere is so good you couldn’t imagine not having the teammates, coaches and staff on the Valkyries in your life.

For the newcomers that are in their first and second years, they found an atmosphere that was so welcoming they immediately felt a sense of belonging. It is another aspect that adds to the Valkyries machine and allows it to go.

The atmosphere is so good on the Valkyries that you see someone like star defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding return to the field year after year playing a position that is taxing physically. She took the field with the Valkyries in their first season back in 2011.

Rienna Rueve punts the ball for the Valkyries.

When she let it be known the 2022 campaign would be her last ride season as a player, the Valkyries made sure she went out on a high note. Lammerding has added the most to the Valkyries upbeat culture over the years.

Away from the field, she took up a leadership role serving as president of the WWCFL taking on countless volunteer hours that go with that role.

Linebacker Beth Lalonde has been with the Valkyries since their inaugural season and would have played in 2022 had it not been for an injury she sustained before the start of the regular season. She still remained with the team helping coach the linebackers throughout the season.

Another hero that has kept the Valkyries motoring along behind the scenes has been Michelle Duchene, who help found the team and has been the club’s general manager since its inception. Usually, someone in a volunteer leadership role like Duchene holds stays in that spot for about five years before taking a break.

Emmarae Dale (#45) and Danaye Holynski (#55) team on a tackle.

With the Valkyries, no one has to worry about who is at the helm, because Duchene has always been there. A lot of the family feeling with the team starts there with her.

Players who were once rivals have been adopted into the Valkyries family like former Riot members in left guard Ashley Vikland and receiver Rachelle Smith. Life brought Vikland to Saskatoon in 2018 and the Smith to “The Bridge City” in 2019.

Vikland was a member of two WWCFL title winning teams with the Riot, and Smith was with the Regina side for all three of their WWCFL championships.

When they came to the Valkyries, it seemed like they played their entire football lives with the team earning two more WWCFL championships in 2019 and 2022.

Alex Eyolfson had arguably her best season with the Valkyries.

Like Lammerding, Vikland has elected to hang up the cleats on a stellar playing career following the completion of the 2022 campaign.

Veteran quarterback Alex Eyolfson radiates a vibe that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright even if things go wrong. She arguably had her best season guiding an offence that was veteran heavy with players like receivers Reed Thorstad, Ricki Obed, left tackle Alyssa Funk, centre Alex Wojcichowsky, right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson and running back Sarah Wright.

Saskatoon got a lot of key performances from big play third year receiver in Haley Girolami.

All-time great Valkyries running back Sam Matheson suffered a season ending knee injury in the team’s second regular season game but remained with the squad helping coach the running backs.

Valkyries LB Sydney Schenn (#57) pressures the quarterback.

The defence was led by the veteran presence of middle linebacker Emmarae Dale along with Lammerding. The defensive secondary got a boost when Rienna Rueve, who has been with the club since 2012, elected to return to the lineup as a player after two games as injuries started to add up. Rueve handled punting duties too upon her return.

Ninth-year defensive back Shaylyn De Jong also helped out in the coaching department after her season came to an end with a leg injury.

Receiver Kelsey Murphy, who has been with the Valkyries since 2014, and fourth year pass catcher Danielle Girolami bolstered the defensive playing safety and defensive halfback respectively.

Sarah Wright breaks downfield on a long run.

Defensive end Danaye Holynski and linebacker Jamie Wingate, who both joined the Valkyries in the 2019 WWCFL championship season, solidified star status with the big plays they made in 2022.

The first and second year players brought spunk and a kick butt youthful energy to the team. The second year players that brought spark included defensive back Makayla Sader, defensive end Arden Kliewer, running back and kicker Drew Lundquist and receiver and kicker Grace McCorriston.

Defensive back Jackie Semple-Dyck, Grace Farthing on the defensive line, linebackers Kiara Willick and Sydney Schenn and offensive guard Breanna Allgretto made immediate big impacts on the team as rookies.

About eight first or second years players on average usually started on defence as injuries piled up on that side of the ball this past season.

The Valkyries start celebrating their WWCFL championship win.

In practice under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff led by head coach Pat Barry, defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton and offensive coordinator Caleb Dueck, the Valkyries efficiently get a tonne of work done in practices and video sessions.

When no one is watching, the Valkyries are doing what they need to do to get better and the results show up on the field.

Overall, the Valkyries are able to go from the simple fact that they love the game of football. From there, the family atmosphere and the stellar play on the field comes around naturally.

The Valkyries have fun with the WWCFL championship trophy.

Even when world events beyond anyone’s control causes stoppages and prevents championship games from being played for a couple of years, the Valkyries come back better than ever.

The memories and culture that was in place before those stoppages was remembered and helped the Valkyries move forward like no time had passed when everything started rolling again.

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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Eyolfson, offence hit peak form for Valkyries

Saskatoon advances in WWCFL playoffs with forfeit win

Alex Eyolfson is having a big season as the Valkyries QB.

Alex Eyolfson likes keeping her gals happy.

The Saskatoon Valkyries veteran quarterback is having her best season since joining the team in 2016 averaging close to 300 yards passing per game. In her last two outings that have both been wins over the Valkyries’ provincial rivals the Regina Riot, Eyolfson has completed 40-of-63 passes for 674 yards and seven touchdowns without throwing a single interception.

The 24-year-old is the first to tell you that she is doing well, because everyone on the Valkyries offence is doing well.

“The O-line is creating lots of time in the pocket,” said Eyolfson. “The receivers are running hard routes.

“The running backs are just running unreal and blocking hard. We got to throw more it seems like this season, which is really fun too. We’ve just been connecting well on offence.”

After finishing the regular season with a perfect 4-0 record, Eyolfson and the Valkyries were slated to open the WWCFL playoffs with a quarter-final contest on Sunday against the Winnipeg Wolfpack at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Wolfpack, who went 0-4 in the regular season being outscored 292-0 in those contests, informed the WWCFL on Friday they would be forfeiting that quarter-final contest with the Valkyries, and under WWCFL bylaws, the Valkyries were awarded a 30-0 victory.

Saskatoon advances to host a WWCFL semfinal on Sunday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field against the Edmonton Storm. The Storm closed out their regular season schedule downing the visiting Lethbridge Steel 90-0 on Saturday at Olexiuk Field in St. Albert, which is located just northwest of Edmonton, to improve to 3-1.

The Steel finish the 2022 campaign with an 0-4 mark. The WWCFL’s regular season in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) has benefitted from great pass protection.

The winner of the semifinal clash between the Valkyries and Steel advances to the WWCFL title game, and the league championship contest will be played in Saskatoon on Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

The Valkyries won the WWCFL title the last time a full campaign was held in 2019. They went 3-0 in a three-game exhibition series last season against the Riot.

As for the roll the Valkyries offence has been on, Eyolfson said it helps most of the starters are veterans who have played together for an extended period of time.

“Definitely the chemistry is there,” said Eyolfson. “We’ve all played together for four years at least.

“Everyone just kind of knows their job, and we can just build off that each practice and put in like more complex plays.”

Four players from the Valkyries starting offensive line are members of Football Canada’s National Women’s team including Lauren Ferguson, Alyssa Funk, Betsy Mawdsley and Ashley Viklund. Centre Alex Wojcichowsky is playing her seventh total season with the Valkyries over two different stints as a player.

Rookie Breanna Allegretto has played well seeing some significant time on the offensive line as an injury replacement.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) fires a pass to Rachelle Smith (#81).

Receivers Haley Girolami, Ricki Obed and Reed Thorstad, who is also the Valkyries backup quarterback, are all members of Football Canada’s National Women’s team too. They are all veterans having strong campaigns along with Rachelle Smith, who joined the Valkyries in 2019 after spending a number of seasons with the Riot.

Running back Sarah Wright made Football Canada’s National Women’s Team as well, and she is having a stellar campaign in her fifth season with the team. The Valkyries were really stacked at running back with the presence of one of the squad’s all-time greats in Sam Matheson. Matheson is out due to a season ending injury, but is still on the reserve list for Football Canada’s National Women’s Team.

With the help of so many standouts, Eyolfson got on a roll right from the Valkyries first regular season game, when they downed the Manitoba Fearless 43-14 at SMF Field on May 1. In that contest, the graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School completed 18-of-26 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said Eyolfson is having a season that is kind of legendary. The veteran sideline boss still marvels at the game Eyolfson had when the Valkyries downed the Riot 46-7 at SMF Field on May 28.

In that contest, Eyolfson completed 23-of-29 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception.

“That is stunning at any level of football,” said Barry. “She is having a great year, and we’re very proud of her.”

Alex Eyolfson has great confidence calling plays for the Valkyries.

Barry said Eyolfson’s familiarity with her receivers having played an extended time together is evident. He noted the Valkyries defence gets tested quite a bit in practice.

“It is a big deal,” said Barry. “When we are practicing in the winter, you see Alex (Eyolfson) expect to know where one of our receivers is going to be, and they get there.

“It is a challenge for any defence and ours as well. It is a pretty cool competition that happens.”

Eyolfson plays a big role in the leadership department in being able to pick up her teammates on offence. If someone on offence makes a mistake, you often see Eyolfson talking to that teammate on the sidelines in such an upbeat, encouraging and beautiful way the teammate forgets her troubles right away.

On the field, Eyolfson admits there are times it seems she always knows where her teammates are going to be.

“Obviously, we have our bread and butter plays,” said Eyolfson, who helped the Valkyries win WWCFL titles in 2016 and 2019. “We all know what we are doing, and we kind of can add to and build on them.

“Everyone has their job, and we all know what we are doing out there.”

While the Valkyries got an unexpected bye with their post-season forfeit win over the Wolfpack, Eyolfson is still pumped for the post-season road ahead.

Alex Eyolfson (#15) aims to help the Valkyries capture another WWCFL title.

“It is so exciting to finally have playoffs again,” said Eyolfson. “It just seems like it is a different energy going in, more intense, and we are all ready.

“It will be fun.”

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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Funk discovered Valkyries by chance, off to another WWCFL final with team

Valkyries LT Alyssa Funk (#56) blocks a Steel rush end.

    Thanks to Google, Alyssa Funk received confirmation that women can play tackle football in Saskatchewan, and it started her career in the sport.

    Having grown up in Hague, Sask., Funk was visiting Saskatoon to watch her younger brother Jaxon play football a little over five years ago. Following Jaxon’s game, Alyssa noticed the field crew was setting up the field for the Saskatoon Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League.

    She used the Google online search engine to learn what the Valkyries were all about. Once she realized they were a competitive women’s tackle football team, Funk got excited about playing the sport and decided to join the squad.

    “I was a little scared when I first came, because I didn’t know anyone,” said Funk. “They were really welcoming right from the start.

    “I came to a fall camp my first year, and they were great. I knew I wanted to play O-line. They loved me there.

Alyssa Funk (#56) clears a passing lane for QB Alex Eyolfson.

    “The coaching was great. It was awesome.”

    Funk is now in her fifth season with the Valkyries and anchors the team’s offensive line at left tackle.

    The 23-year-old helped the Valkyries roll past the Lethbridge Steel 53-0 on Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a WWCFL semifinal contest. The Steel’s campaign came to an end with the loss as their overall record was finalized at 3-3.

    With the win, the Valkyries, who improved to 7-0 overall, advance to the WWCFL championship game to be held this coming Saturday at 4 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    Saskatoon will face the two-time defending WWCFL champion and host Regina Riot in the title clash. The Riot, who have a 3-3 overall record this season, downed the Valkyries 14-10 in last year’s final.

Alyssa Funk (#56) clears a path for RB Sarah Wright.

    Regina took the other WWCFL semifinal contest 30-8 in Edmonton on Saturday against the host Storm.

    In Sunday’s win over the Steel, the Valkyries piled up 609 yards of total offence with 238 yards coming on the ground and 371 yards through the air.

    The Steel was limited to 136 yards of offence.

    Funk said the chemistry on the Valkyries offensive line has been strong this season. Along with Funk, the club’s starting offensive line includes right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy and left guard Ashley Viklund.

Alyssa Funk (#56) sets up to protect the passing pocket.

    Besides the fact the starters have played well, Funk said the Valkyries have received strong contributions from the backups as well.

    “We’ve been playing together really, really well,” said Funk. “It doesn’t matter which of the seven of us are on.

    “We communicate well. We talk to each other. We finish our blocks, and we are putting up points. That is all you can do.”

    Funk joined the Valkyries in 2015 and quickly vaulted to star status. She helped the Valkyries win their fifth WWCFL title in June of 2016.

    The Valkyries thumped the Edmonton Storm 81-6 in the WWCFL final held in Lethbridge, Alta. Funk remembers current Valkyries head coach Pat Barry, who the team’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at the time, asking at halftime how many people had won a championship with the team before.

Alyssa Funk (#56) opens a hole on a running play.

    “Only about half the hands went up,” said Funk. “He (Barry) said lets win it for the people whose hands aren’t up.

    “We went out there, and we crushed them. It was a great time.”

    In late July of that same year, Funk suited up for Team Saskatchewan at Football Canada’s inaugural Senior Women’s National Championship tournament.  Funk and Saskatchewan won gold at that event held in Regina.

    During the 2017 campaign, Funk had the opportunity to suit up for Canada’s national women’s football team. She helped Canada win silver at the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championship tournament held in Langley, B.C.

    Funk never envisioned she would have those experiences under her belt in her second and third seasons.

Alyssa Funk (#56) and Eden Rakochy (#57) team up on a block.

    “It was actually surreal,” said Funk. “I didn’t have high expectations for myself.

    “I didn’t want to get my hopes up. It was the greatest thing I have ever been a part of. It was amazing.

    “I worked really hard for it, and I hoped that I could get myself there. It seemed unrealistic, but I am glad it wasn’t.”

    Barry said Funk has been an important part of the Valkyries since joining the team.

    “She (Funk) is an excellent football player,” said Barry. “She cares about the sport.

    “She is an excellent blocker. We’re very pleased to have her. She is just strong.

Emmarae Dale (#45) make a tackle for the Valkyries.

    “She is a student of the game. She is someone who cares deeply about the Valkyries and about her teammates.”

    Funk is looking forward to the fact the Valkyries will return to the WWCFL title game.

    The Valkyries had dedicated the season to late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a plane crash on June 1. On top of that fact, Funk wants to help her teammates that have never won a WWCFL title gain that experience for the first time.

    “I think it is really exciting that everybody gets to play for a championship now,” said Funk. “We all get that chance again for redemption.

    “A lot of our girls have lost championships, but haven’t won them. That inner drive is there for us. We’re motivated. We’re ready.”

Haley Girolami had three TD catches for the Valkyries on Sunday.

    In the win over the Steel, the Valkyries led 15-0 after the first quarter and expanded their edge to 43-0 at halftime. They cruised to the 53-0 final result from there.

    Rookie receiver Haley Girolami hauled in three passes for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns. She had the Valkyries first major score on a 28-yard reception and went on to add a 66-yard scoring catch and a six-yard touchdown grab.

    Star running back Sam Matheson ran the ball seven times for 92 yards and scored two touchdowns. She hauled in two passes for 45 yards as well and kicked an 11-yard field goal.

    Third-year running back Sarah Wright ran the ball 11 times for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns. She caught two passes for 46 yards in the win.

    Alex Eyolfson started the game at quarterback for the Valkyries, and she completed 11-of-13 passes for 255 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Sam Matheson had two rushing TDs for the Valkyries on Sunday.

    Safety Rienna Rueve scored a single point on a 20 yard missed field goal.

    Defensively, middle linebacker Emmarae Dale piled up 11.5 tackles for the Valkyries.

    Barry was pleased with his team’s performance.

    “We were excited to be able to get a lot of people on the field,” said Barry. “You don’t always get to do that in playoffs.

    “We’re happy about that. People who don’t always get to play as many reps they got to play a lot of reps today, so that was good.”

    NOTES – Filteau’s parents, Ron and Nancy, joined the Valkyries for the game’s opening coin toss. Nancy handled the duties of flipping the coin.

    The Valkyries coaches and a number of team staffers were wearing “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirts.

The Valkyries celebrate advancing to the WWCFL final.

    It was a favourite shirt the late Justin Filteau liked to wear, and it was given to him by the Valkyries players in 2017 as a humourous gift.

    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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    If you like what you see here, you might want to donate to the cause to keep independent media like this blog going. Should you choose to help out, feel free to click on the DONATE button in the upper right corner. Thank you for stopping in.