Hilltops overcoming injury bug early in season

Dalton Urban, centre, watches game action August 24.

The injury bug seems intent to strike the Saskatoon Hilltops early and often.

Even before the 2025 CJFL campaign began, the Hilltops lost starting star 22-year-old safety Dalton Urban for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury occurred when Urban dressed for a pre-season game for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on May 30 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Urban’s injury occurred while playing the Roughriders kickoff coverage team in the 27-20 setback to the Blue Bombers. He has been invited to training camp activities with the Roughriders and was putting on a great showing with the community-owned CFL squad with the injury putting a damper conclusion on things.

While he isn’t able to play, Urban is hanging around the Hilltops. During game days, he can often be found wearing team gear similar to the sideline staff and holding a tablet as he discusses adjustments with teammates. It wasn’t the place one would expect to see Urban as the club has gotten out to a 2-1 start.

Along with Urban going down, the injury bug has taken out a big chunk from the Hilltops quarterback position. Before the season started, Brexton Elias was pegged to be the Hilltops starting signal caller taking on that role in his fifth and final season with the club. He was tabbed with succeeding graduated star starter Trey Reider.

Elias was injured in the pre-season and still hasn’t made his first official CJFL start.

Early in their regular season opener against the host Rifles in Winnipeg on August 10, the Hilltops started second-year signal caller Charlie Molder only to lose him early on in the contest to a longer term injury. Hayden McMahon finished up playing the bulk of that contest as quarterback as the Hilltops fell 31-11.

McMahon, who is in his third year with the team, has started the Hilltops last two games, which were both home victories. They defeated the Edmonton Huskies 46-6 on August 17 and posted a redeeming 42-15 victory over the Rifles on August 24.

Those starts marked the first time has taken on that role as a signal caller in a game since his high school days playing for the six-a-side Biggar Central School Blazers in Biggar, Sask., as a Grade 12 senior in 2022. McMahon appears to have a tonne of upside, where one of the big things holding him back was the lack of playing experience in the 12-person game.

Corbin Ebben went down to injury on August 17.

With that noted, the Hilltops would be in big unexpected territory if McMahon went down to injury. They added Clark Snider before their second regular season game. Snider, who is in his final season of CJFL eligibility, played the 2024 campaign with the Kamloops Broncos.

Before their third regular season game, the Hilltops brought Griffin Sander on board. Sander has been a reserve with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football Team and is in his fourth campaign of CJFL eligibility.

Jace Martins, who is in his rookie season in the CJFL after graduating high school in Sylvan Lake, Alta., has been slated as the Hilltops backup quarterback for their last two games.

In the August 24 victory over the Rifles, the Hilltops dressed Elias as the fourth-string quarterback. CJFL teams are allowed to dress 60 players for regular season home games, 45 for regular season road games and 40 for post-season contests. Elias likely wouldn’t see the field in that contest only as an emergency if the Hilltops three other quarterbacks that dressed went down to injury.

During his career, Elias has been a good contributor in the team’s quarterback room, and the Hilltops coaches will create opportunities for him to fill that role. When he gets healthy enough to play further up the depth chart, the Hilltops coaches will then have to re-evaluate where they are on that front.

The Hilltops lost fourth-year star running back Corbin Ebben to injury in their August 17 win over the Huskies. At that spot, newcomer David Collins, who is in his final year of CJFL eligibility, and Charles Sawi, who is in his fourth season of CJFL eligibility, have filled in admirably.

Collins sits second in the PFC with 480 yards rushing coming on 54 carries to go with four touchdowns. Sawi sits sixth in the PFC with 170 yards rushing coming on 19 carries to go with three major scores. When Ebben is set to return, the Hilltops coaches are going to have to do evaluations to figure out where the veteran fits in.

The Hilltops also lost fifth-year centre Matt Noble to a shoulder injury in the win over the Huskies. Noble has had a history of shoulder issues and got married in the off-season. At the moment, he has elected to not complete his final campaign of CJFL eligibility and move on with life away from the team taking stock of his life situation.

Hilltops star middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk, who is in his fourth season with the team, was lost due to injury in the August 24 win over the Rifles. So far, the Hilltops have been able to overcome Michayluk’s absence.

The injury bug is one of those things that can derail a football season, and injuries are often out of a team’s control.

Still, the Hilltops wouldn’t mind having some better luck on that front as the rest of the 2025 campaign goes on.

Valentino CJFL record gets weekly accolade

When you set a CJFL record, there is a good chance you will get a weekly player of the week nod.

In the Saskatoon Hilltops 42-15 victory over the Winnipeg Rifles back on August 24 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, Hilltops second-year defensive back Ryan Valentino set a CJFL record for making five special teams solo tackles in one game. The previous record of four was shared by many players. Rifles linebacker Kresten Neufeld happened to make four special teams solo tackles in that same contest.

Valentino also had one defensive tackle assist to go with his five special teams solo tackles. Thanks to his efforts, Valentino was named the PFC’s special teams player of the week for the game action from that weekend on August 26.

Also for that week, Hilltops fifth-year running back David Collins was named the PFC’s offensive player of the week. In that victory over the Rifles, Collins ran the ball 33 times for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught one pass for no gain.

Edmonton Wildcats linebacker Ethan Speedy claimed honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his efforts in his club’s 19-16 setback to the Calgary Colts on August 24 at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. Speedy had eight defensive tackles and three pass knockdowns.

All teams in the PFC enjoyed a bye week this past weekend.

Instagram accounts to watch for CJFL and U Sports

A screenshot of the Wizard Takes Instagram page.

A pair of independent Instagram accounts have attracted a solid following with one focusing on the CJFL and one concentrating on U Sports football.

Wizard Takes, which goes by the handle @wizardtakes, has collected over 10,000 followers and focuses nationally on the CJFL in a way that hasn’t been seen in any media circle for some time. Ob.sessedsports, which goes by the handle @ob.sessedsports, has surpassed over 12,400 followers and follows U Sports football in a solid way on a national level that would be hard to be matched by any outlet in any media circle.

You would have to go back to 1990 to note the last era when media outlets across Canada still had a good focus on the CJFL. After that point, it became spotty where good coverage was regionalized.

For U Sports, it could be argued the football league still got fairly strong coverage across Canada just a relatively short time ago in 2014.

In the current day for both the CJFL and U Sports football, the coverage across Canada is spotty and is definitely not anywhere close to what it used to be.

Often owners of mainstream outlets for the ones that have human owners and are not owned by an inanimate hedge fund, the message is no one cares about these circuits. It is a problem faced by all high level amateur sports leagues in Canada.

The numbers Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports are gaining with followers show there is an audience out there for CJFL and U Sports football. Both accounts produce a whole host of solid posts with a variety of content. They are both showing that if you have the quality people will pay attention.

The best part with Instagram compared to Platform-X, which is formerly known as Twitter, is Instagram is filled with accounts that are actual people. About 80 per cent of the accounts on Platform-X are either anonymous or bot accounts, which has created the toxic vibe on that platform that is very focused on politics.

Of course, celebrities still have the biggest following on Instagram, and that includes Canadian sports celebrities. Canadian pole vaulter Alysha Newman, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, has over 728,000 followers on Instagram. Newman arguably has the most swagger seen from any Canadian born athlete in recent years.

Still, the followings Wizard Takes and Ob.sessedsports have gathered are impressive and deserved. If you have an interest in CJFL and U Sports, they are a must to check out.

Johnson to speak at End Zone Dinner, other notes

Evan Johnson (#64) in action for the Roughriders on July 15, 2023.

Arguably, the best looking offensive lineman to ever play in the CFL is coming to the Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

Evan Johnson, who played seven CFL seasons from 2017 to 2024, will be the guest speaker for the annual event that raises money for the Hilltops scholarships and bursaries. The End Zone Dinner is slated for Saturday, September 27, at the main hall in the Gordie Howe Sports Centre building located on the south end zone of Saskatoon Minor Football Field on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds.

The doors open at 4:15 p.m. and the dinner follows at 5 p.m. A ticket to the End Zone Dinner includes a ticket to that night’s regular season contest against the Hilltops provincial rivals the Regina Thunder. That game is slated for 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Johnson graduated high school from Regina’s Campbell Collegiate and moved on to play football in the U Sports ranks from 2012 to 2016 with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He would be selected in the first round and ninth overall by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2017 CFL Draft.

From 2017 to 2019, Johnson played 52 regular season games with the Redblacks making starts at left guard, right tackle and left tackle. He suited up for the Redblacks in their 27-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 Grey Cup played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta.

From 2021 to 2023, Johnson played 48 regular season contests with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He moved on from the Roughriders to appear in 10 games with the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in 2024.

Johnson, who is 31-years-old, is married to former Dallis (Aiken) Johnson, who is a former defensive back with the powerhouse Saskatoon Valkyries of the WWCFL. They reside in Saskatoon where Evan Johnson works for an engineering firm.

Tickets for the Hilltops End Zone Dinner can be purchased by clicking right here.

• Hilltops cornerback Jace Mowles leads the PFC with three interceptions. The Hilltops top the conference in total takeaways with 12.
• Hilltops running back Charles Sawi tops the PFC in punt returns (17) and punt return yardage (175).
• Edmonton Wildcats receiver Jacob St. Hilaire has caught 16 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown. He leads the PFC in receiving yards.
• With the Saskatchewan Roughriders topping the entire CFL with a 9-2 mark, it appears most of Rider Nation is back on the bandwagon. The team’s three biggest home attendances have come in the club’s last three home games. On July 25, the Roughriders drew 27,933 spectators for their 21-18 home win over the Edmonton Elks. On August 16, the Roughriders had a sellout crowd of 33,350 come out for their 29-9 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On Sunday, the Roughriders were allowed to sell extra standing room tickets for the Labour Day Classic and drew their biggest crowd ever at Mosaic Stadium at 34,243 spectators to see 34-30 triumph over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. When the Roughriders do well, it gives a boost to football across Saskatchewan.

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Hilltops seek redemption as Rifles come to town

Winnipeg romped to 31-11 win over Saskatoon in PFC Week 1

The Hilltops huddle up during game action last Sunday.

The score 31-11 is burned into the minds of the Saskatoon Hilltops.

That was tally the Hilltops were on the losing end of when they faced the host Rifles at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg on August 10. The contest was the regular season opener for both teams.

It is believed that since the start of the 2006 season the only other time the storied Hilltops lost to the Rifles came back on August 28, 2022, when the Rifles claimed a 19-16 victory in Winnipeg. The fact the Hilltops lost on August 10 to the Rifles in convincing fashion turned heads across the CJFL.

With the Hilltops having won 23 CJFL championships in their history, legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said the convincing setback to open the season in Winnipeg was a reminder his squad is gunned for by the rest of the teams in the entire CJFL.

“People want to come out and play their best and do their best against us, because we’re the measuring stick,” said Sargeant. “That is the reality.

“At the end of the day, we know that. We got to prepare better, coach better, they got to play better and the rest of the stuff just don’t matter.”

Injuries have made Hayden McMahon (#15) the Hilltops starting QB

Last Sunday, the Hilltops rebounded and romped over the visiting Edmonton Huskies 46-6 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Also on that day, the Rifles traveled to Sherwood Park, Alta., and downed the host Edmonton Wildcats 43-24.

Rifles quarterback Riley Element completed 15-of-26 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in that contest. He was named the offensive player of the week for the Prairie Football Conference on Wednesday for his performance against the Wildcats.

The Hilltops (1-1) host the Rifles (2-0) this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. 

In the CJFL Power Rankings that were released on Thursday, the Rifles are rated fifth, while the Hilltops are rated seventh.

After what happened between these two sides on August 10, there will be a lot of intrigue around the CJFL to see how the second clash between these two teams in three weeks will play out.

The Hilltops head into Sunday’s game battling the injury bug especially at quarterback. Brexton Elias, a fifth-year veteran who was pegged as the starter in pre-season, and Charlie Molder, a second-year player who was pegged as the backup, are both out with longer term injuries. 

Isaac Michayluk steadies the Hilltops defence at MLB.

Hayden McMahon, who is in his third year with the team, was penciled in at third on the Hilltops depth chart in pre-season and is now the starter for the foreseeable future.

McMahon actually played the majority of the first encounter with the Rifles as Molder went down due to injury very early in that contest. 

Going into the upcoming battle with the Rifles, McMahon said the intensity would be dialed up to a higher level at Hilltops practice in anticipation for this next meeting.

“I know the coaches will make the adjustments, and we’ll have a really good game plan,” said McMahon. “If we’ve got to adjust that game plan throughout the game, we will.

“I’ve got full faith in our team and our coaching staff that we’ll put a great game plan together and play those Rifles hard, because they’re a really good team.”

On May 17 at St. Vital Mustangs Field in Winnipeg, the Rifles played an exhibition game against the Saint John’s University Johnnies, who are an NCAA Division III team based out of Collegeville, Minnesota. The Johnnies hammered the Rifles 51-3.

Rifles head coach Geordie Wilson was quoted on the Rifles Instagram account that his club’s clash with the Johnnies was a necessary process that will aid his team’s readiness to play the Hilltops in the season opener.

Kaiden Banfield (#34) charges downfield on Sept. 15, 2024.

Hilltops star fourth-year middle linebacker Isaac Michayluk said the Rifles are legit.

“They’re a good team,” said Michayluk. “They are physical.

“They want it. They have a really good running back in Kaiden Banfield. He is a stud.”

Michayluk said you could tell the Rifles worked hard in the off-season to get ready for the 2025 campaign during that season opening tilt.

“They had a really good off-season it seemed like,” said Michayluk. “They were prepared.

“A lot of respect goes to them. We’ve just got to prepare. We’ve just got to work hard and prepare for them.”

Sargeant said his Hilltops know the challenge that waits for them this coming Sunday.

He said it is up to his venerable squad to bring the battle in this encounter, and he doesn’t expect his team to receive much sympathy if they don’t beat the Rifles in this contest and fall to 1-2.

“No one is going to feel sorry for the Saskatoon Hilltops for all we’ve accomplished, all we’ve done and so we know that,” said Sargeant. “Hey, we’re in the chase, we’re in the hunt, and we’re just going to keep battling.

David Collins charges downfield for the Hilltops.

“I think this team is going through a lot of adversity right now, and hey, I’m creating a lot of that adversity for them too. As I said, we’re not going to take a backseat to no one, and we’re just going to keep grinding. That is the team I got.”

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Hilltops where they should be in latest CJFL title quest

Trey Reider slings a pass for the Hilltops.

Pegged as the outright favourites to repeat as CJFL champions, the Saskatoon Hilltops are again living up to lofty expectations.

The defending CJFL champions have started the 2024 campaign with a 3-0 record outscoring their opposition 137-33 along the way. They have occupied the top spot in the CJFL’s Top 10 Power Rankings in every week that the rankings have been released.

Every team in the CJFL dreams of knocking the Hilltops off the mountain top. That has been easier said than done when it comes to the venerable and storied squad. The Hilltops have won 23 CJFL titles in their history and claimed 10 of the last 13 CJFL championships that have been contested dating back to 2010.

Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his assistant coaches know what it is like to be the hunted team on the circuit. They know how to help their players deal with the noise that can range from people on the outside putting the team on pedestal or to negative comments coming the Hilltops players’ way via social media trying to tell them they are overrated and not that great.

When the Hilltops come off their bye week, they will travel to Regina to face the 3-0 Thunder at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday, September 7. If the Hilltops fall in that contest, they will hear noise predicting that their attempt to win another CJFL title in 2024 won’t pan out.

So far for the Hilltops, their worst game of the campaign has been their regular season opener back on August 11 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. In that contest, they were flat but still beat the visiting Edmonton Huskies 38-13. To be fair, the Huskies and the officials were also flat in that contest creating one of those opening day games that can go all over the map, which does happen quite a bit in football.

The Hilltops have looked strong and exciting in their two road wins since. On August 18 at Maple Grove Rugby Park in Winnipeg, the Hilltops rolled over the Rifles 47-1. Last Sunday at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary, the Hilltops crushed the Colts 52-19.

Drake Douglas has made numerous big plays for the Hilltops.

While the Hilltops are once again showing great balance in their passing and running attacks on offence, quarterback Trey Reider has been excellent so far playing out his final campaign of CJFL eligibility. Reider has completed 38-of-60 passes for 521 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He has run the ball nine times for 76 yards and two major scores.

Hilltop receiver Drake Douglas, who is also playing out his final CJFL campaign, is making a case that he might be the most exciting player in all of Canadian junior football. He has caught 17 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns.

Douglas tops the PFC in punt returns (18) and punt return yards (229). He has a 34-yard touchdown pass to his credit coming off a fake field goal in the win over the Colts.

Corbin Ebben is rounding into the power running back the Hilltops hoped the third-year player from Delisle Composite School Rebels nine-a-side Football Team could be. Ebben has carried the ball 51 times for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

While it might sound strange, the Hilltops most memorable “splash” play comes via a couple of first-year players. During mop up time in the win over the Colts, rookie signal caller Charlie Molder hit receiver Hayden Day for a 70-yard pass and run touchdown on a picturesque steak pattern play. Molder was a star with Saskatoon’s Aden Bowman Collegiate Bears Football Team, while Day starred for Balgonie’s Greenall High School Griffins Football Team.

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Kai Kukurudza and defensive tackle Johnathon Stevens have wreaked havoc on opposing offences. Kukurudza has three sacks and an interception, while Stevens has two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Defensive back Nathan Young, who is in his fourth season of CJFL eligibility, has made the highlight reels returning two interceptions for touchdowns to go along with a fumble recovery.

Kai Kukurudza (#73) closes in on a tackle for the Hilltops.

If the Hilltops can beat the Thunder in their upcoming clash, it should set Saskatoon up well going into the second half of the PFC’s regular season schedule. In the Hilltops final four regular season contests, they will play at home on three occasions. Playing frequently like that at SMF Field should aid the Hilltops considerably in big games down the stretch.

With the PFC champion scheduled to host a CJFL semifinal this season, the Hilltops could find themselves playing even more at home when the post-season comes around.

The Hilltops are again living up to their high standards, and at the moment, there is no reason to expect that to change.

Ebben tabbed as PFC Player of the week

Corbin Ebben (#34) was the PFC offensive player of the week.

Saskatoon Hilltops power running back Corbin Ebben did his best impression of Roger Craig, and he was recognized with a weekly CJFL award for his efforts.

On Tuesday, Ebben was named the offensive player of the week of the Prairie Football Conference for his performance in the Hilltops 52-19 victory over the Colts at Shouldice Athletic Park in Calgary last Sunday. Ebben carried the ball 18 times for 140 yards and hauled in four passes for 67 yards and three touchdowns.

On the season, Ebben has carried the ball 51 times for 304 yards and two touchdowns. His rushing yardage total ranks third in the PFC.

Craig gained fame becoming the first play in the history of the NFL to have over 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in one season coming in 1985 with the San Francisco 49ERS.

Edmonton Huskies defensive back Owen MacNeil claimed honours as the PFC’s defensive player of the week for his performance in his team’s 27-8 victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Emerald Hills Regional Park in Sherwood Park, Alta. MacNeil had three interceptions to go with five solo defensive tackles and a pass knockdown.

Winnipeg Rifles defensive back Cohen McCluskey captured the PFC’s special teams player of the week nod for his efforts in team’s 30-0 loss to the Thunder at Leibel Field in Regina last Sunday. McCluskey had five special teams solo tackles in that loss.

Hilltops’ director Gould passes away

Jeff Gould, right, talks with Topper in August of 2023.

The sidelines of Saskatoon Hilltops home games won’t be the same for some time with the passing of director Jeff Gould.

Gould passed away on Monday at age 73 due to complications following a recent cancer diagnosis. Gould was serving in his 15^th year as a Hilltops director and was the team’s game day convener and was also a vice-president of the PFC.

As the Hilltops game day convener, Gould was a fixture on the sidelines during Hilltops games. It was common to see him visiting with anyone who roamed the sidelines, and he often visited with Hilltops players on the sidelines who weren’t dressed due to injury. Gould also held roles in the past as the Hilltops manager and team president.

He was a person that lifted the atmosphere of any room he stepped into. Gould had a great sense of humour and good and often off-colour jokes.

Along with his work with the Hilltops, Gould enjoyed being involved in the community and contributed countless hours to the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon, K-40 and the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival.

Gould was super proud of his family. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Hope, daughters Kara (Ralph) Deters and Kelly (Jeret) Bode, grandchildren Hayden, Olivia, Nora and Iris, siblings, nieces, nephews and countless others who had the privilege to know him.

Gould’s celebration of life will be planned for a date in October. His obituary from Saskatoon Funeral Home can be found by clicking right here.

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