2013 Grey Cup was Rider Nation’s best day at Taylor Field

Me, left, next to Chris Schultz on TV.

Thanks to looking over Chris Schultz’s shoulder, I had my moment at the 101^st Grey Cup.

Following the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 romp over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to win the Grey Cup at home on the frozen concrete of Taylor Field on November 24, 2013, I found myself heading to the booth on the north side of the legendary facility that was hosting TSN’s game day panel.

I was part of the group that got to look in through the window as the members of the panel gave their final thoughts on the contest. I was looking over the shoulder of Schultz, who was a former offensive tackle and 1991 Grey Cup winner with the Toronto Argonauts.

Later on that night, I noticed my TV appearance was captured on photo by a couple of buds in Mike Kaye and Jeff Urkevich, who posted the images on Facebook. I laughed when I saw them, and they are still a good keepsake memory.

This past Sunday, the CFL wrapped up a Grey Cup Unite promotion that began on Monday, Nov. 16. It marked a week long virtual celebration of the CFL and its iconic title game that dates back to 1909.

Grey Cup Unite ran during the same time this year’s Grey Cup festival was to be held in Regina, and the championship contest was to be played on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.

With the world locked in the grips of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2020 CFL campaign got outright cancelled.

Rider Nation mingled in the streets before the 2013 Grey Cup.

There was talk about playing a shortened CFL season in a hub city format in Winnipeg, Man., but the entire campaign was officially terminated on August 17.

During the Grey Cup Unite week that just wrapped up, my mind drifted back to that seasonably pleasant day and night in Regina on November 24, 2013. That game was played seven years ago today, and it feels like some kind of other lifetime ago.

Still, I wish something could make me go back in time to relive that day again. Even just being seven years younger that I am today, I felt I was able to truly soak in and enjoy that day.

At that time, I was still working at the Medicine Hat News as a beat writer that covered the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. I had booked a vacation week that started on that Grey Cup Sunday.

With how the stresses were in the workplace at that point in time, I aimed to use my vacation weeks as tools to give myself strategic breaks. Looking at the CFL schedule, I thought the Roughriders could be in that game.

Fans walk to Taylor Field for the 2013 Grey Cup.

Even if they weren’t, I expected to attend a Grey Cup party in Medicine Hat and had plans to enjoy the day that way.

I was actually in Calgary a week earlier on November 17, 2013 at McMahon Stadium, when the Roughriders hammered the host Calgary Stampeders 35-13 in the CFL’s West Final.

When I got home, I did check Ticketmaster’s website to see if there were tickets available for the Grey Cup. Of course, the game was a sellout.

During my career as a sports reporter, I knew usually at big events like the Grey Cup a portion of tickets are set aside for dignitaries and special guests. Tickets that are set aside for those purposes that aren’t used usually go back on sale to the general public.

On the Tuesday just two days after the West Final, I was able to buy one of those tickets that were put back up for sale to the public.

The Saturday before the Grey Cup game, I actually worked a WHL regular season contest, where the host Tigers downed the visiting Regina Pats 5-1 at The Arena in Medicine Hat. The Tigers crew knew I was heading to the Grey Cup game, and they all told me they hoped I had fun.

Fans gather outside Taylor Field before the 2013 Grey Cup.

I believe I only slept five hours that night and began my jaunt to Regina at 7 a.m. on Grey Cup Sunday.

When I arrived in Regina, it was like everywhere I went in town was a joyful, feel-good party. After wandering the streets around Taylor Field enjoying festivities with the rest of Rider Nation, I made my way to the stadium to ensure I got to see the pre-game show.

During pre-game show, the sellout crowd of 44,710 spectators was already in a walking on air mood when the Saskatoon-based band the Sheepdogs was on the field playing. As game time neared, you believed this would be the perfect dream night for Rider Nation.

This belief was backed up when the Roughriders charged the field in their traditional “Bring ‘Em Out” style.

The game’s signature moment came early in the first quarter, when Roughriders franchise quarterback Darian Durant scrambled up field, got hit and fumbled the ball high into the air to be pulled down by star running back Kory Sheets.  Sheets rumbled off a magical 39-yard game for the home side.

Fans line up to get into Taylor Field for the 2013 Grey Cup.

As a Roughriders fan, you had a big gut feeling that this game was going to go your way after seeing that play.

That drive eventually resulted in a diving 15-yard touchdown reception by legendary CFL receiver Geroy Simon that put the Roughriders up 7-3. Saskatchewan scored 24 points in the second quarter to take a 31-6 lead into halftime.  The outburst included another beauty 42-yard touchdown catch by Simon.

After Hedley’s entertaining halftime show, Hamilton scored the first 10 points of the second half to create a little worry for the Roughriders fans cutting Saskatchewan’s lead to 31-16. That was as close as the visitors got.

A four-yard touchdown run by Sheets and a 26-yard touchdown reception by receiver Weston Dressler put the Roughriders up 45-16, and the victory celebration in Saskatchewan started in earnest.

Sheets had two major scores along the ground and piled up a Grey Cup record 197 yards rushing on 20 carries to be named the game’s MVP. He ran with power and authority.

The inside of Taylor Field at the 2013 Grey Cup.

Durant completed 17-of-24 passes for 245 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Slotback Chris Getzlaf was the contest’s most outstanding Canadian player hauling in three passes for 78 yards.

The game was also highlighted by two big sacks from Roughriders defensive lineman John Chick.

On a fan front, I was pumped to see the Roughriders run over Tiger-Cats star quarterback Henry Burris, who once played for the Roughriders in the early 2000s. Crazy part was I would met Burris about four years later after he quarterbacked the Ottawa Redblacks to a Grey Cup win in 2016.

I learned Burris was a gem of a person, and also having a better understanding of the business of sports, I regretted the fan heckles I sent his way over the years at CFL games including the 2013 Grey Cup.

Even with that noted, I still relish and have the greatest memories of the Roughriders Grey Cup win in 2013, which was fourth Grey Cup victory in team history. It felt like the right outcome for the final Grey Cup ever played at Taylor Field.

Taylor Field shortly after the Roughriders win the 2013 Grey Cup.

When the clock ticked to zero, people were hugging their neighbours all around them. The image of Durant hoisting the Grey Cup with a huge smile on his face will also live forever. The green and white confetti raining down on the Roughriders players was also a site to behold.

For the longest time after that game ended, I remember just sitting in the stands and soaking everything in. On the fan front, it was the greatest day.

I also had four buds who were University of Regina Rams football team grads on that Roughriders team in Neal Hughes, Brendon LaBatte, Getzlaf and Jordan Sisco. Thanks to those connections, I actually spent some good social time with a number of players on that Roughriders team over the years including Durant.

They are all great guys, and I was really proud that they got to achieve that moment in their careers.

Actually, the idea of the Roughriders winning the Grey Cup at Taylor Field wasn’t even something that seemed conceivable for the bucket list.

The final scoreboard of the 2013 Grey Cup.

After reveling in the moment, I made my way to the booth where the TSN panel was to get my TV moment.

From there, I disappeared to “the Green Mile” and into the Regina night to enjoy the celebration, which went well into Monday morning.

For like a 24-hour period, it really felt like life was just truly good. Even now, I feel fortunate I got to enjoy that feeling.

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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Hilltops aim to improve for big CJFL clash with Huskies

HC Tom Sargeant, left, wants to see improvement from his squad.

    Head coach Tom Sargeant knows his Saskatoon Hilltops have to do more than just find ways to win.

    The five time defending Canadian Junior Football League champions have started 2-0 this season with two road victories. They downed the Rifles in Winnipeg 34-20 on Aug. 18 and the Thunder in Regina 34-16 last Sunday.

    Having lost a number of key starters to graduation and the university ranks, the Hilltops haven’t looked smooth in the early going.

    In the win over the Rifles, Winnipeg outgained Saskatoon in gross offensive yards 466 to 440. The Hilltops came away with victory winning the turnover battle 6-1.

    In the victory over the Thunder, the Hilltops forced five turnovers but gave the ball away themselves three times. Saskatoon managed to outgain Regina in gross yards 384 to 342.

    “We’re just a little bumpy right now,” said Sargeant, who picked up his 200^th career CJFL win in both action in the regular season and playoffs with the victory over the Thunder. “We’re just not trusting what we do.

    “What we practice is not what I am seeing.”

Jared Giddings, left, intercepts the football at its high point.

    The Hilltops finish a stretch of opening the regular season with three straight road contests this Sunday, when they travel to Edmonton to face the Huskies (2-0). The clash is an early season big game and marks the only time the two sides will meet in the regular season.
    The winner will not only improve to 3-0 but hold the head-to-head standings tiebreaker between the two sides as well.

    Going into this contest, the Hilltops have won their last 21 overall games in a row including action in the regular season and playoffs and their last 25 straight on the road including three victories in the CJFL championship game – the Canadian Bowl.

    Third-year running back Ben Abrook has been the Hilltops workhorse carrying the ball 64 times for 310 yards and scoring one touchdown over the club’s first two games. He said the team’s offence needs to have better outings than what happened in the game against Regina.

Ben Abrook, right, has been a workhorse for the Hilltops.

    “Our offence didn’t play as good as we should have,” said Abrook. “Our defence held us in there all game and made some huge plays.
    “We have a long road ahead of us to get where we want to go.”

    The defence provided the biggest highlights for the Hilltops in the win over the Thunder. Defensive back Colton Holmes stripped the ball away from Thunder short-yardage quarterback Carter Shewchuk at the Saskatoon one yard line late in the first quarter.
    The Hilltops put together an 11-play, 109-yard scoring drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Abrook.

    On the final play of the third quarter, Hilltops safety Brant Morrow intercepted a pass inside of his own end zone and raced 113 yards the other way for a touchdown. Morrow had two interceptions, two tackles and his 113-yard interception return was a new Prairie Football Conference record.

    Morrow was named the PFC defensive player of the week for his efforts.
    Fourth-year boundary corner Jared Giddings had an interception and three tackles in the Hilltops win over the Thunder, and he said the defence could still play better.

The Hilltops want to get to the end zone more frequently.

    “As a unit, we played alright,” said Giddings. “We had a couple of breakdowns.

    “Myself, I had a breakdown on the one sideline pass. We’ll learn from it. We watch a lot of film.”
    Sargeant expected the 2019 campaign to be a bit more a challenging campaign for his squad compared to recent seasons. The Hilltops have won eight of the last nine CJFL titles.

    The legendary sideline boss said the Hilltops coaches need to do a better job preparing players to play. He expects a better performance against the Huskies.

    “The good thing is I have a lot of experience, and my coaches have a lot of experience and a lot of pride in that room,” said Sargeant. “We’re going to work real hard to make sure that our team comes out and performs better.”

Getzlaf guest speaker at Hilltops End Zone Dinner

Chris Getzlaf on the Taylor Field big screen in 2013.

    Saskatchewan Roughriders great Chris Getzlaf will be the guest speaker at this year’s Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

    Getzlaf suited up as a receiver in 11 CFL campaigns from 2007 to 2017 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos. The Regina, Sask., product spent the bulk 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 with the University of Regina Rams in 2005 and 2006 in the U Sports ranks. 

Chris Getzlaf makes a training camp catch in 2015.

    Before his time with the Rams, Getzlaf played with the Regina Thunder, when the team was still called the Prairie Thunder.

    The Prairie Thunder name was last used in the 2004 CJFL campaign.
    When he was a member of the Roughriders, Getzlaf was a fan favourite right across Saskatchewan. 
    Throughout his football career, Getzlaf was known as the quiet type who led by example.
    He was a member of the Roughriders Grey Cup winning teams in 2007 and 2013. Getzlaf was named the most valuable Canadian player in the 2013 Grey Cup.

    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 purchases for $825.

    Tickets to the dinner also include game tickets to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and 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.

Huskies play giveaway to Bisons, other notes

What. An. Incredible. First. Half. For. @MBBisons !!! We’ve got some touch downs...we’ve got defence turning over fumbles...and we’ve got interceptions. What more could you ask for from the Herd? #BisonGang pic.twitter.com/MV5bT4aJko

— Chantal Zdan (@Chantz_Zidane) August 31, 2019

    The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team was too generous in sharing the ball with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

    On Friday night before 1,001 spectators at IG Field in Winnipeg, the Huskies gave the ball away to the Bisons seven times including three fumbles, two interceptions and two turnovers on downs. The Bisons weren’t as generous and didn’t turn the ball over once.

    As a result, the Bisons romped to a 43-19 victory in the U Sports regular season opener for both sides. Manitoba led 27-9 at halftime and cruised to victory from that point.

    The Huskies entered the season as the defending Canada West champions. They were rated fourth in the initial U Sports Top 10 rankings and second in the Canada West pre-season coaches poll.

    In his first U Sports start, Huskies quarterback Mason Nyhus completed 27-of-39 passes for 313 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

    Running back Adam Machart led the Huskies in rushing carrying the ball 13 times for 93 yards. Running back Josh Ewanchyna ran the ball eight times for 66 yards and scored one touchdown. He had two long runs called back due to holding penalties.

    Receiver Daniel Perry topped the Huskies in receiving yards at 76 coming off six catches. Yol Piok had five catches for 68 yards and one touchdown.

    Kicker David Solie made both his field goal attempts but missed one of two convert attempts.

    Bisons quarterback Des Catellier completed 14-of-19 passes for 163 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

    Receiver Macho Bockru hauled in six passes for 99 yards and scored three touchdowns for the Bisons. Running back Michael Ritchott topped the Bisons with 70 yards rushing on four carries including a 58-yard touchdown run.

    Bisons kicker Matt Riley made all five of his field goals.

    The Huskies return to action this coming Friday when they host the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium.

• The Saskatoon Blades thumped the Pats in Regina 8-3 in their pre-season opener on Friday night. Colton Dach, who is a 16-year-old rookie, scored twice for the Blades, while Kyle Crnkovic, Spencer Shugrue, Hayden Smith, Chase Wouters, Radek Kucerik and Nolan Kneen had singles. Nolan Maier went the distance making 37 saves to pick up the win in goal.
• The defending WHL champion Prince Albert Raiders opened their training camp on Friday with 90 players participating. On Thursday, the Raiders signed 18-year-old centre Ilya Usau to a WHL standard player agreement. Usau, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 181 pounds, is from Denver, Colorado and had seven goals and nine assists in 28 regular season games for Salisbury School in Connecticut last season.
• Gerry Thompson, who is the retired legendary head coach of Regina’s Thom Collegiate Trojans football team, wrote a letter to the Regina Leader-Post about his insight to the storied Trojans football program taking a year leave of absence from the Regina Intercollegiate Football League. That piece can be found 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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Look good, play good – Pingue aims to be model of consistency for Hilltops

Jaydn Pingue celebrates a Hilltops win last season.

    On game day, Jadyn Pingue shoots to be a model of consistency for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    When his squad goes up against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder, some Regina players often remind Pingue that he is a model of another kind. Away from the football field, Pingue has worked as a fashion model.

    In games against Regina, the 22-year-old receives his share of trash talking from the Thunder players about his off-field exploits. Odds are high he might hear more of those jabs on Sunday, when the five time defending Canadian Junior Football League champion Hilltops face the Thunder at 3 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

    “I don’t even pay attention to what they are saying,” said Pingue. “It is irrelevant.”

    It should be noted that Pingue does look real good in his photo shoots, if one is being honest. When asked about how he feels he looks in his modeling photos, Pingue looked embarrassed at the query, chuckled and shrugged it off.

Jadyn Pingue, left, defends a pass against the Thunder last season.

    “I do what I do, and I like what I do,” said Pingue. “I’m pretty sure other guys would want to do the same, if they could, so I’m not going to be phased by their talk.

    “I’m not paying attention to any talk. I’m just focused on getting the ‘W.’”
    Now in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops, Pingue is starting on defence for the first time in his CJFL career. During his time with the venerable CJFL Saskatoon side, Pingue spent the first four years playing behind a deep linebackers group.

    The graduate of Saskatoon’s Holy Cross High School Crusaders football team was substituted in frequently on defence during his first four seasons, while mainly playing special teams. 

Jadyn Pingue all set at outside linebacker last season.

    Playing on a starting linebacker group that includes fellow fifth-year Riley Keating and Brady Fossen, who is in his third year, Pingue strives to be like the star veterans he played behind that have since graduated from the program.

    “It has been a really good experience,” said Pingue, who stands 6-feet and weighs 205 pounds. “I have been able to learn from guys like Cole Benkic, Cam Schnitzler, Adam Benkic, Cody Peters, Bobby Ehman, just like great guys and great teammates.

    “It has been my first year starting, but I’ve gotten a lot of playing time as well whether it has been on special teams or even on defence as well. I have big names to live up to. There have been legends before me.

    “It is just next man in. It is kind of just like a responsibility I knew that was coming. I just want to live up to those expectations and be able to perform exceptionally on the field.”

    In the Hilltops regular season opening 34-20 over the Rifles in Winnipeg last Sunday, Pingue had six total tackles and a fumble recovery.

Jadyn Pingue drops into pass coverage for the Hilltops last season.

    While Pingue has improved during his time with the Hilltops, head coach Tom Sargeant believes the veteran linebacker can play even better.

    “Some days I think he looks good,” said Sargeant, who needs one more win for 200 head coaching victories combined in the CJFL regular season and post-season. “Some days, he makes me real mad, because I have high expectations.

    “I just care about Jadyn (Pingue) as a person and as a player, and you know what, that other stuff outside of football, good for him. I need him to be a star on game day. That is all I am asking.”

    While trying to get Pingue to play at an even higher level, Sargeant said his veteran is making the most of his opportunity to be a starter. 

Jadyn Pingue makes a tackle in last year’s Canadian Bowl.

    The legendary sideline boss said the Hilltops fifth years have shown great loyalty to the team, and the team has to ensure to reflect that loyalty back on to the players.

    Sargeant said he and the coaching staff have to do their part to help Pingue try to get as close to playing towards perfection as possible.

    “Jadyn (Pingue) is a dynamic athlete,” said Sargeant. “He has been a great special teamer.

    “Now he gets the opportunity to shine and thrive as a linebacker, but yet we are still having him play a lot of the special teams as well. He was a presence out on the field on Sunday (against the Rifles). He was all over the place.

    “We just want to harness him a bit, coach him a little bit smarter and make sure he is in the right spots when he does that. He is going to be a dynamic playmaker in the PFC, and he already is.”

Jadyn Pingue (#45) celebrates making a defensive play last season.

    Now in his fifth year in the CJFL, Pingue knows he has to be better and his team has to play better than they did in the season opener in Winnipeg. He said the effort needs to be better this coming Sunday against the Thunder.

    “There is a lot of stuff that we have to learn,” said Pingue. “Winnipeg played us physical.

    “They had like four months to prepare for us. I’m pretty sure that game was circled on their calendar the second they saw it. We have a lot to work on, but I’m excited to go against a team like Regina.

    “They always play us tough. It is going to be a great learning experience whatever the outcome is. Honestly, I’m just excited to play this game.”

    The Hilltops enter the contest with the Thunder having won their last 20 straight games including the regular season and playoffs and last 24 straight on the road including three victories in the CJFL title game – the Canadian Bowl.

Jadyn Pingue (#45) wants to enjoy more championship moment like this.

    The Hilltops last loss came at the hands of the Thunder 29-26 back on Sept. 9, 2017 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. Saskatoon’s last road loss was a 19-16 overtime decision on Aug. 17, 2014 against the Thunder in Regina at a facility that no longer exists in Taylor Field.
    Ultimately, Pingue would like to be able to experience what the Hilltops eight graduating fifth-year players did last season in winning a CJFL title in all five years they played in the league. At the moment, that group are the only ones to accomplish that feat, and Pingue would like to have that feeling.

    “There is no question I want to have that experience as well,” said Pingue. “I don’t want to be known as the team that couldn’t keep the streak going.

    “It is just taking it one week at a time. I’m not too focused on that. It would be great to go out with another ring.”

Getzlaf guest speaker at Hilltops End Zone Dinner

Chris Getzlaf on the Taylor Field big screen in 2013.

    Saskatchewan Roughriders great Chris Getzlaf will be the guest speaker at this year’s Saskatoon Hilltops End Zone Dinner.

    Getzlaf suited up as a receiver in 11 CFL campaigns from 2007 to 2017 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos. The Regina, Sask., product spent the bulk 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 with the University of Regina Rams in 2005 and 2006 in the U Sports ranks. Before his time with the Rams, Getzlaf played with the Regina Thunder, when the team was still called the Prairie Thunder.

    The Prairie Thunder name was last used in the 2004 CJFL campaign.

Chris Getzlaf make a training camp catch in 2015.

    When he was a member of the Roughriders, Getzlaf 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 purchases for $825.

    Tickets to the dinner also include game tickets to that night’s CJFL regular season contest between the Hilltops and 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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    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.

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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Durant trade ends era for Roughriders

The Roughriders traded Darian Durant to Montreal.

    Darian Durant couldn’t play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders forever, but his departure is something most fans in Rider Nation are still digesting.

    Early Friday morning, news spread quickly that the Roughriders traded Durant’s CFL rights to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for a fourth round selection (32^nd overall) in this year’s CFL Draft and a conditional selection in next year’s draft. Montreal has until Feb. 14 to sign Durant, or the veteran franchise quarterback can become a free agent.

    Durant, who stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 214 pounds, had been with the Roughriders for 11 seasons and became the club’s unquestioned starter in 2009. He was part of the Roughriders 2007 Grey Cup championship team as a backup to Kerry Joseph and powered the Roughriders to a Grey Cup championship at home as a starter in 2013. The Florence, South Carolina, product also started for the Roughriders in heartbreaking Grey Cup losses in 2009 and 2010.

    Injuries also kept Durant off the field for significant time in 2014 and 2015.

    Way back on July 12, 2008, Durant made his first start with the Roughriders and threw them to a thrilling 33-28 road victory over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton. From 2009 to 2014, he was part of a core group of players that powered the “green and white” to success year after year including Weston Dressler, John Chick, Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg, Mike McCullough and Neal Hughes.

    Out of that group, only Bagg remains. Last season, Durant and Bagg were the two lengthy veteran mainstays.

Darian Durant runs in a winning overtime TD for the Roughriders.

    Other key figures that passed through the Roughriders during Durant’s era included Gene Makowsky, Ben Heenan, Ty Brackenridge, Andy Fantuz, Tristan Jackson, Eddie Davis, Lance Frazier and Ricky Foley. At the moment, the Roughriders don’t have a face for the franchise. Arguably, veteran offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Chris Best are the team’s two most recognizable players.

    Outside of the past two seasons, most of Durant’s time with the Roughriders is linked with winning. It seems like only yesterday that Durant hooked up with Getzlaf on a long touchdown toss with less than two minutes to play to beat the Stampeders in Calgary 24-23, but that game was actually played on Aug. 1, 2009.

    Later that season, Durant watched from the sidelines when the Roughriders fell 28-27 to the Alouettes due to the infamous too many men call at the end of the game. That penalty gave a second chance for the Als to kick a winning field goal after the first attempt was missed. Had the miss stood, the Roughriders would have won that contest.

    The 34-year-old leaves the Roughriders sitting second in team history for career pass attempts (3,584), completions (2,226), yards (28,507) and touchdown passes (152).

    Durant’s legacy is more than just numbers. Being the starting quarterback of the Roughriders might be the hardest job in the CFL due to intense fan scrutiny, and Durant exceled at it. He became a fan favourite despite still having a few vocal detractors.

    In social settings, he always put his teammates in front of himself ensuring they were having a good time. During Durant’s years with the team, I had a few buds that played with the Roughriders over the years, and I got to see that part up close. That is a big sign of a good leader.

Darian Durant fires a pass downfield for the Roughriders.

    At the moment, the Roughriders don’t seem to have a successor in place for Durant. Saskatchewan head coach and general manager Chris Jones needs to find the team’s next franchise quarterback.

    Set to begin play at new Mosaic Stadium, the Roughriders need to surpass their 5-13 record from 2016, or the heat Jones feels now will really get out of control. If you are going to make a move to unload a player of Durant’s status and quality, you better have a guy waiting in the wings to do the job.

    When the NFL’s Green Bay Packers parted way with Brett Favre in 2008, Aaron Rodgers was ready to become the Packers starting quarterback. The Roughriders are not in that type of situation.

    With the way Jones has handed roster moves during his first season with the team, he doesn’t inspire confidence like a Wally Buono, John Hufnagel or the late Cal Murphy.

    It appears more rough times still await the Roughriders.

Wickenheiser calls it a career

A story on Hayley Wickenheiser from the 2013 Medicine Hat News.

    It was a low-key retirement announcement that was classic Hayley Wickenheiser.

    On Friday, the Canadian hockey icon announced over Twitter she was leaving the game. The Tweet included a photo of her relaxing on a bench by an outdoor rink.

    The 38-year-old wrote, “Dear Canada. It has been the great honour of my life to play for you. Time to hang em up!! Thank you! #grateful #graduationday #canada.”

    You would expect someone of Wickenheiser’s stature to announce her retirement at a huge news conference at the headquarters of Hockey Canada in Calgary. With that said, that isn’t her style. When news of Durant’s trade broke, you almost think Wickenheiser went into action to make her retirement announcement now in order to try and avoid being the centre of attention.

    The Shaunavon, Sask., product first made Canada’s senior national women’s hockey team at age 15 in 1994, and was part four Olympic gold medal winning squads and one Olympic silver medal winning team.

    I remember catching up with her for a story in the Medicine Hat News in October of 2013, when Canada’s women’s team was preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. It was conceivable that Wickenheiser might play in the 2018 Winter Olympics, but it was highly realistic 2014 could be her last run. Canada’s national team system was being filled with numerous talented young players.

    At that time, Wickenheiser said she hadn’t made any decisions on her future but admitted to having little nostalgic moments.

    I asked her what it was like to be idolized by girls across Canada, and I received a unique response. Wickenheiser said she was glad female athletes in Canada have a lot of role models to look up to in sport.

    “When I grew up, I didn’t have female role models really in sport,” said Wickenheiser at the time. “Now there is myself and all the girls that I play with and players like Christine Sinclair in soccer.

    “You’ve got a lot of different female athletes that are high profile now in Canada, and that is really good for young girls that are coming up in sports.”

    Words aren’t enough to describe the impact Wickenheiser has had on the sporting scene in Canada. Here is hoping the next step of her life is as successful and rewarding as her playing days, and she gets into the Hockey Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

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

Roughriders are a big joke

Saskatchewan’s CFL franchise deserves all the criticism it gets

QB Darian Durant calls a play in the huddle for the Roughriders.

    You have to think some Saskatchewan Roughriders fan somewhere is getting the urge to throw his or her jersey on the field.

    While I don’t condone that type of behaviour, all you have to do is check social media lines and sports talk shows in Saskatchewan to feel the frustration of Rider Nation. After Saturday’s 53-7 stinker of a loss to the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton, it is getting harder and harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the Roughriders, who fall to 1-7 on the season and are 6-29 in their last 35 outings in the regular season and playoffs.

    A lot of TV viewers undoubtedly switched over from the game telecast on TSN over to see the impressive and heartfelt final performance of the Tragically Hip live from Kingston, Ont., on CBC. The iconic performance of Hip frontman Gord Downie, who is battling terminal brain cancer, will ensure the Roughriders performance will be forgotten for a short moment. The criticism for the “Green and White” won’t stay at bay for long.

    Outside of a handful of plays against the Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field, the Roughriders weren’t in Saturday’s game at all. The second half really felt like it was mail it in time. You would like to see signs of improvement, but the team just keeps regressing.

    In the worlds of legendary former NFL head coach Bill Parcells, “You are what your record says you are.”

    Right now, the Roughriders are a very brutal CFL football team.

    There have been a number of things that have been hard to stomach, and a handful of them are as follows.

Release of Chick a huge mistake

John Chick signs autographs at Roughriders training camp in 2015.

    In the loss to the Tiger-Cats, Roughriders fans again had to mull over the fact that defensive lineman John Chick was no longer part of the team.

    Chick was cut by the Roughriders back on Jan. 14. During his time with the Roughriders, Chick became a fan favourite thanks to the combination of his stellar play and the fact he was very active representing the team in the community.

    The 33-year-old product from Gillette, Wyoming, was with the Roughriders from 2007 to 2009 and was a key cog in the club’s 2007 Grey Cup championship win. After a stint in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, Chick rejoined the Roughriders in 2013 and helped them win the Grey Cup later on that year on home turf at Mosaic Stadium. He remained with the Roughriders until being released in January.

    A day after releasing Chick, the Roughriders signed defensive lineman Shawn Lemon as a free agent. Lemon helped the Calgary Stampeders win the Grey Cup in 2014 and was a key member helping the second year Ottawa Redblacks reach the Grey Cup last year. At age 27, he was also six years younger than Chick, and a lot of people saw Lemon as Chick’s replacement.

    Lemon played one regular season game with the Roughriders and was traded to the Toronto Argonauts.

    If you are going to bring in a younger player to replace an established star, you better be sure the younger player stays with your team longer than the established star does, if the star player signs with another team.

    Chick resurfaced with the Tigers-Cats and has 16 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles in eight games. He recorded two of his sacks on Saturday against the Roughriders.

    To make matters worse, the Roughriders defensive line has struggled all season especially with getting pressure on the quarterback.

Departures of Dressler and Getzlaf also hurt

Chris Getzlaf signs an autograph for a young Roughriders fan in 2008.

    The Roughriders lack of success on the field also has fans missing receivers Weston Dressler and Chris Getzlaf.

    Dressler was released the same day Chick was and Getzlaf was allowed to become a free agent after last season. Dressler, who turned 31 in July, is currently on the six-game injured list with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Getzlaf, 33, signed with the Edmonton Eskimos.

    The Roughriders have gotten good production from their receivers for most of the season, but there is a feeling among the fans the presence of Dressler and Getzlaf would result in more points. In Dressler’s case, he is also an accomplished kick returner, and if he wasn’t going to be used as a receiver, he is better than any returner the Roughriders currently have on their roster.

    Both Dressler and Getzlaf played with a lot of heart and genuinely cared about the team and the fans. Without Dressler and Getzlaf, the fans feel less connected to the team.

Roster fines were earned

Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell escapes the Roughriders rush.

    On Aug. 11, the CFL fined the Saskatchewan Roughriders $60,000 for roster violations and deducted $26,000 from their 2016 salary cap.

    The CFL said the Roughriders were in violation of policies that prohibit practice with ineligible players, having players participate in practice who are on the six-game injured list and having free agents practise with players who are under contract. The league’s investigation spanned over several weeks.

    Since those fines were announced, it seems like everyone has chimed in with their thoughts.

The bottom line was the Roughriders were caught violating the rules, and they paid for it. The whole situation also brought out Jones’ weakness on the personnel front.

    After Jones came on board, it seems players have be coming and going out of the Roughriders dressing room through a revolving door. At some point in time, you need to stick with a group of players and run with them. If you are shuffling guys on and off your roster, you can’t build any chemistry on and off the field that is needed to win.
    Roughriders fans got their backs up for a short time regarding a Twitter comment Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell made about Saskatchewan’s roster situation a couple of days before the fines were announced. Mitchell’s words didn’t have a lasting impact as the losses mounted.
    When the Stampeders beat the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium 19-10 on Aug. 13, the hecklers weren't even that harsh to Mitchell.

Defence is brutal

Members of the Roughriders suspect defence get ready for a play.

  In too many games this season, it feels like the Roughriders defence is non-existent.

    Over eight games, the Roughriders have held their opponents to under 30 points twice and under 20 points just once. If you are looking for you offence to score over 40 points a game to win in the CFL, you are in a lot of trouble.

    Against the Tiger-Cats on Saturday, the Roughriders allowed 421 yards through the air and 88 yards along the ground. You might think the rushing defence would be a strong point, but the CFL has been more of a passing league than normal this season.

    The Roughriders have been giving up huge amounts of yards through the air all season comparable to the yards given up to the Tiger-Cats. Besides the fact their defensive line has struggled, there are times when the receivers from the opposing team have been wide open to the point you can’t see a Roughriders defensive back anywhere.

    Jones built a reputation as being an outstanding defensive coordinator in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts before becoming a head coach first with the Eskimos and now with the Roughriders. When you become a head coach, it is never a good sign when the side of the ball that is your specialty is not getting the job done.

Can the Roughriders break their funk?

Roughriders QB Darian Durant stays cool under pressure.

    You never say never.

    While star quarterback Darian Durant had a rough outing against the Tiger-Cats throwing his first four interceptions of the season, he gives the Roughriders a chance to win every time he steps on the field. His composure was evident on Saturday even when things went downhill.

    Unfortunately, losing has become a habit for this team, and as anyone can see over the Roughriders last 35 games in the regular season and playoffs, losing is a hard habit to break.

    The Roughriders travel to Edmonton on Friday to take on the defending Grey Cup champion Eskimos (4-4), who appear to be getting on track after two-straight wins.

    For the moment, it seems like things are going to get worse before they get better.

    If you have any comments about this blog post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.