Hilltops get nods in CJFL Top 50

Storied Saskatoon squad opens regular season on Sunday

Charles Sawi was rated second on the CJFL Top 50 list.

Tom Sargeant is about team first, but he will always be up for his players receiving any individual recognition.

Heading into the 2023 CJFL regular season, the Hilltops had five players crack into the CJFL’s annual Top 50 players to watch list heading into the campaign. Running back and kick returner Charles Sawi was rated second, defensive end Riece Kack placed eighth, running back Boston Davidsen was listed 22^nd, middle linebacker Matt Wist cracked in at 26^th and defensive back Joe Yausie was rated 38^th.

The Hilltops, who were rated third in the CJFL’s pre-season power rankings, open their regular season schedule on Sunday when they host the Edmonton Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

Sawi cracking the list in the second spot was head turning considering he is entering his second campaign in the CJFL, and he is still 18-years-old.

“It is certainly a recognition of the type of playmaker that he is,” said Sargeant, who is the Hilltops legendary head coach. “At the end of the day, it is still a small sample size, because he really didn’t get a lot of touches.

“Certainly, Boston (Davidsen) is still our feature running back and the guy that we’re going to put a lot of emphasis in. Charles will get some of his reps there, and he’ll get some reps in other places as well. We have a pretty good core offence.

Riece Kack (#47) was rated eighth on the CJFL Top 50 list.

“We’ll move him around a little bit and try and showcase what his skill set is and see if he can earn that number being number two.”

The CJFL has produced Top 50 players lists at the start of each season since 2016. Sawi joins select company as only three other Hilltops players have been rated either first or second on the Top 50 lists that have come out.

 The first time the circuit ever did such a list in 2016, Hilltops linebacker Cole Benkic was rated first. 

One year later, Hilltops running back Logan Fischer cracked the Top 50 list in the second position. In 2018, Hilltops quarterback Jordan Walls was ranked first on the Top 50 list.

Benkic, Fischer and Walls were all in their respective final campaigns of CJFL eligibility when they reached those lofty ratings on the Top 50 list.

Last season, Sawi won the CJFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He became the first member of the Hilltops to be named a rookie of the year for the entire CJFL since that honour was first handed out in 1998.

In 2022, Sawi, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 185 pounds, played through his rookie campaign in the CJFL at just 17 years of age and made some of the season’s most electrifying plays on offence and special teams. During the regular season, Sawi carried the ball 30 times for 342 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Boston Davidsen was rated 22nd on the CJFL Top 50 list.

On special teams, Sawi returned seven kickoffs for 168 yards and one touchdown, and five missed field goals for 271 yards that included a 125-yard return for a touchdown.

Sargeant, who is the all-time leader in career amateur post-secondary head coaching wins in Canadian football at 224 victories, said the splash plays Sawi made in 2022 picked up a lot of attention.

“First things first, he is so exciting on special teams, and that is where he made the majority of his name,” said Sargeant. “He runs pitch well, and he has a few things that really feature well into our offence.

“He is going to be our punt returner and kick returner. He is going to get into that offence way more than he was last year. Coach (Shane) Reider and the offensive staff have to keep figuring out how to get him in space, because once you get him in space, boy, he is tough to tackle out there.”

While Sawi captured the CJFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, Davidsen had an outstanding campaign in his own right. 

In the Hilltops eight regular season contests, Davidsen, who is entering his final season of CJFL eligibility, carried the ball 149 times for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Davidsen slated as the Hilltops top running back, Sargeant has his own set of expectations for Sawi in 2023.

Matt Wist was rated 26th on the CJFL Top 50 list.

“We just want him to be a solid, competitive player that fits in well with our offence, and at the end of the day, that is reliable,” said Sargeant. “We can rely on him consistently.

“He is accountable to himself and to his teammates. If he can do those things, then they usually turn into big things with the blue and gold.”

On August 3, the Hilltops fell 32-1 to the Hilltops Alumni Team in the annual Hilltops Alumni Game at Ron Atchison Field. The Hilltops enter the 2023 regular season with a young and inexperienced team playing out of a resetting Prairie Football Conference.

Sargeant said there is a bit of a different vibe going into Sunday’s game with the Wildcats compared to how the Hilltops started any of their other campaigns in recent memory.

“It is way different, because we have so many new starters in here,” said Sargeant. “Certainly, we saw that last week against the alumni that youth and the lack of experience.

“Hopefully, through that performance and that game, the coaches are coaching it up and coaching hard that they’re going to be ready to play against their peers in the Edmonton Wildcats, a foe we’ve gone against for years. They have a new coaching staff and a new regime. There is a lot of uncertainty.

Joe Yausie (#9) was rated 38th on the CJFL Top 50 list.

“At the end of the day, we’re just focusing on ourselves and making sure that we get out here, and we perform up to our standards and attack the goals that we’ve set. At the end of the day, let’s see where it takes us.”

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 family celebration and reunion highlighted 2015 Canadian Bowl

The Hilltops celebrate their Canadian Bowl win in 2015.

The celebration was on for the Saskatoon Hilltops alums 75 minutes before kickoff of the 2015 Canadian Bowl.

On arriving at the Saskatoon Minor Football Field parking lot on November 7, 2015, a festive atmosphere was in the air. The Hilltops alums were out everywhere sporting their trademark team blue jackets from their playing days.

It should be noted they weren’t prematurely celebrating a Hilltops victory in the CJFL title game that was about to be played.

They were gathering in fellowship to celebrate and relive the memories they collected during their playing days. It seemed like Hilltops alums had arrived from various generations of the team’s modern era that began in 1947.

Hilltops alums flocked to the 2015 Canadian Bowl.

The Hilltops were the defending CJFL champions and were entering the 2015 Canadian Bowl with a 9-1 overall record to face the undefeated 12-0 Okanagan Sun from Kelowna, B.C.

It felt like there was a special tingly feeling in the air that the game and day were going to be great ones.

As a side bonus, the weather was 5 C and sunny, which was unseasonably warm for that time of year.

I encountered Cory Wolfe later that afternoon.

Wolfe covered five Hilltops CJFL championship wins for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix with the last being a 34-23 victory over the Vancouver Island Raiders in 2010 in Saskatoon. Wolfe said the 2015 Canadian Bowl game was a lot warmer than any of the CJFL title contests he had ever covered.

Tailgating was going full out at the 2015 Canadian Bowl.

The pleasant weather added to the upbeat nature of the day.

Inside the stadium, the festive atmosphere continued including a stage that was set up beside the field featuring a live musical act.

On the field, Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant and his players were focused as they went through pre-game warm-ups. The focus continued throughout the game.

When the Hilltops were introduced at pre-game, they had to get a rush from the thunderous ovation they received from the crowd. The statistics sheet for that game stated 2,567 spectators attended that Canadian Bowl, but is seemed like the attendance was larger than that.

Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant focuses on game action.

Looking in the stands on either the west or east sides of the venue, you couldn’t find an empty seat. Spectators seemed shoehorned into the park’s old stands configuration, and many fans elected to sit on the hills at that venue.

The 2015 Hilltops team was a close-knit unit that was loaded with veterans. They had playmakers all over the place including star quarterback Jared Andreychuk and outside linebacker Cole Benkic, who was named the CJFL’s most outstanding defensive player that season.

The Hilltops main calling cards were their outstanding offensive and defensive lines.

The offensive line featured Tyler Hoath at right tackle, Drayke Unger at right guard, Jordan Hydomako at centre, Nathan Heide at left guard and Terry Thesen at left tackle. They made up one of the arguably the best offensive lines the Hilltops ever had.

Jared Andreychuk (#5) threw for 369 yards for the Hilltops.

The defensive line included Tom Schnitzler and Blake Herman at the ends and Tyrell Hering and Matt Kozun at the tackle positions. They made up arguably one of the best defensive lines the Hilltops ever had.

It was common in games for the Hilltops linebackers and defensive backs to drop into coverage assignments only to watch the defensive line squash any opposing offensive play before it could get going.

While the Hilltops were loaded, the Sun were a formidable opponent. The B.C. side took the turf at SMF Field locked arm in arm with a quiet and strong resolve.

The 2015 Canadian Bowl would be a showcase of junior football in Canada at its best.

The Hilltops defence pressures Sun QB Cam Bedore (#7).

After the Hilltops surged out to an early 10-0 lead that included a 45-yard field goal from Brett Thorarinsson, the Sun battled back and jumped in front 14-10 early in the second quarter.

A rushing touchdown by star running back Logan Fischer put the Hilltops back out in front 17-14, and it looked like that would be the score at halftime.

The Sun proceeded to come through with a big play before the halftime break. Sun linebacker Layne Hull blocked a punt and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 4.5 seconds remaining before halftime to give the B.C. side a 20-17 edge.

Hull would be named the game’s most outstanding defensive player.

The Hilltops weren’t shaken by that big play that had them trailing on the scoreboard at halftime. They still had the quiet confidence that they would make the plays to come out on top.

Logan Fischer (#21) piled up the yards for the Hilltops.

In the third quarter, the Sun lead grew slightly to 21-17 thanks to a rouge from a punt single.

With over four minutes to play in the third, Andreychuk hit skilled slotback Evan Kopchynski with a 75-yard touchdown strike that had the Hilltops faithful rocking and rolling. The celebration was short-lived as an offside penalty negated the score.

Two plays later, Andreychuk connected with speedy slotback Tyson Sawatzky for a 73-yard touchdown strike. There were no flags this time and the noise at SMF Field might have hit record levels as the Hilltops went ahead 24-21.

Fischer ran in his second touchdown of the game before the third quarter ended to increase the Hilltops edge to 31-21.

The Hilltops Cheer Team entertains the SMF Field crowd.

The Sun tightened things up in the fourth quarter when kicker Thomas Huber hit a 40-yard field goal to cut the Hilltops lead to 31-24.

With under two-and-a-minutes to play in the fourth, the Sun got the ball back, but they were back up at their own one yard-line. Still, they were 109 yards away from sending the contest to overtime.

The Sun drive went to the Okanagan 33 before the Hilltops defensive line flexed its muscle and laid the hammer down forcing a turnover on downs.

Andreychuk proceeded to hit playmaking slotback Evan Turkington with a 33-yard touchdown strike to put the Hilltops up by the game’s final score of 38-24. The scored was Turkington’s second touchdown catch of the game.

Blake Adams (#54) celebrates one of his two quarterback sacks.

While the game was a battle, the Hilltops and their family and faithful were able to soak in a championship moment as the final minute of the fourth quarter ticked down with the host side leading by two touchdowns.

The Sun players kept their effort up as well, but you could visibly tell they were sensing the finality of what was to come.

They would finish the 2015 campaign at 12-1, and the Hilltops would improve to 10-1 and repeat as CJFL champions. The win that day marked the 18^th time the Hilltops won the CJFL title.

Since that time, the Hilltops have gone on to win the next four straight CJFL crowns to extend their current consecutive title run to six straight and improve their overall CJFL title count to 22.

Tyson Sawatzky celebrates his 73-yard TD catch.

After the CJFL title game on November 7, 2015 came to an end, the Hilltops stormed the field in celebration.

This was the second season I had covered the team as I began writing about them halfway through the 2014 campaign after relocating to Saskatoon from Medicine Hat, Alta.

After the 2015 CJFL title win, my biggest memory was hugging Sargeant after the game and hearing him say, “Thank you for everything you have done for us!”

At the time, I was still unsure if I could cover sports on my own platforms outside of the mainstream media, so Sargeant’s words at that point in time meant a tonne to me. It gave me the reassurance that I could be taken seriously doing my own thing covering sports.

Hilltops LB Quinn Pierce makes a tackle.

With that noted, I didn’t go into the day looking for that special personal nod. I had a feeling I was going to soak in a special day for the Hilltops, and I really enjoyed being around that team like I still do to this day.

Fischer was named the game’s most outstanding offensive player breaking the 100-yard barrier in rushing and receiving. He carried the ball 23 times for 102 yards and caught seven passes for 107 yards.

He had the biggest smile, when he accepted the trophy as the game’s most outstanding offensive player.

Andreychuk completed 18-of-23 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns to go with one interception. Sawatzky caught four passes for 132 yards to go with his long TD catch.

Hilltops HC Tom Sargeant gets the ice bucket shower post-game.

Adams had two sacks, while Kozun and Hermann had one-and-a-half sacks each.

Sun quarterback Cam Bedore completed 25-of-43 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown. Kyle Kawamoto caught eight passes for 159 yards for the Sun, while Kyle Patchell hauled in nine passes for 110 yards and one touchdown for the visitors as well.

The Hilltops returned to their old longtime clubhouse for a celebration that ran well into the night.

Hilltops safety Austin Thorarinson (#17) raised the Canadian Bowl.

On that Canadian Bowl winning game day, it felt like all the links anyone had with that venerable team were renewed.

The Hilltops family celebration and reunion that November 7^th day in 2015 was well deserved.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. The original game story from the Hilltops 2015 Canadian Bowl victory can be found by clicking right here. The season wrap up column for the Hilltops 2015 campaign can be found by clicking right here.

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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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Hilltops’ Peters claims CJFL’s top defensive player honours

Hilltops LB Cody Peters, right, was named the CJFL’s top defensive player.

    The 2018 football season keeps getting sweeter for Saskatoon Hilltops linebacker Cody Peters.

    On Friday night at the Canadian Junior Football League’s awards banquet at the Radisson Hotel, Peters was named the winner of the league’s Larry Wruck Defensive Player of the Year award. Peters became the first Hilltops player to claim that honour since Cole Benkic back in 2015.

    As an added bonus, Peters accepted the award from Saskatoon Hilltops linebacker great Larry Wruck, who the defensive player of the year award is named after.

    In late May and early June, Peters, who is in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops, attended training camp with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders along with Hilltops star defensive back Colton Holmes.

    Peters proceeded to spend the first two weeks of the CFL season on the Roughriders practice roster.

    When he returned to the Hilltops, Peters recorded 26 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception during the regular season helping the Hilltops post a perfect 8-0 record. In the Hilltops two post-season wins, Peters had nine total tackles and a forced fumble.

    The Hilltops (10-0) will try to win an unprecedented fifth straight CJFL title on Saturday and try to complete a perfect season hosting the Langley Rams (10-3) in the Canadian Bowl at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    During the campaign, Peters picked up honours as a Prairie Football Conference all-star, most outstanding linebacker and most outstanding defensive player. On Wednesday, he was name a CJFL all-Canadian all-star.

    The Peter Dalla Riva Offensive Player of the Year was awarded to quarterback Jake Marquette of the Hamilton Hurricanes. Marquette, who was a CJFL all-Canadian all-star, completed 97-of-145 passes for 1,760 yards, 28 touchdowns and one interception in eight regular season games.

    Marquette quarterbacked the Hurricanes to an 8-0 regular season record and a berth in the CJFL semifinal game, where they fell 39-14 to the Rams in Langley on Nov. 3.

    Hurricanes receiver Keyshaun Jordan took home CJFL Rookie of the Year honours. He topped the Ontario Football Conference with 33 receptions, 753 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns appearing in all eight regular season games.

HCs Tom Sargeant and Howie Zaron pictured with the Canadian Bowl.

    Hurricanes president and general manager Mike Samuel was named the winner of the Stewart MacDonald Executive of the Year award.

    The Gord Currie Coach of the Year award was presented to Chilliwack, B.C., based Valley Huskers head coach Bob Reist. Reist guided the Huskers to a 6-4 record and their first playoff berth in the British Columbia Football Conference since 2008.

    Huskers defensive lineman James Moar claimed the CJFL’s Past Commissioners Community Service award.

    Before the awards banquet was held, the CJFL held a press conference on Friday afternoon where the head coaches from both the Hilltops and the Rams addressed the media at SMF Field.

    The Hilltops head into the Canadian Bowl coming off a 19-day layoff from last hitting the field for a game, when they downed the Edmonton Huskies in the PFC final on Oct. 28.

    Legendary Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant was in top form, when asked about the opportunity his team had to win a fifth straight CJFL title.

    “We’re here for the fifth-year players,” said Sargeant. “Last year was last year’s team. The year before was that team.

    “This is this team, so they just want one. They don’t care about all that other stuff. That is noise.

    “At the end of the day, to go 10-0 in our league obviously we’ve done something right to get to here. I expect that team to show up that has been here all year show up tomorrow and understand and be focused and get the job done. That is what I want to see.”

    Rams head coach and general manager Howie Zaron said his club is just worried about trying to beat the Hilltops squad that will take the field on Saturday.

    “I think, if you get caught up in the championships and the four in a row and all that stuff, you’re already defeated before you get here,” said Zaron. “It hasn’t been a thought for us at all.

    “We’re just here to have some fun and win a football game. Everybody likes to make a big deal of these games. It is just another football game for us.

    “We know what is on the line. We’re excited.”

    This will mark the third time in seven years the Hilltops and Rams face each other in the Canadian Bowl. The previous two encounters were both held in McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C.

    In 2012, the Hilltops claimed one of the all-time classic CJFL title encounters downing the Rams 23-21. In 2014, the Hilltops ran away with a 39-14 victory, which started their current run of winning four straight CJFL championships.

    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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Rams prove a point in sound win over Thunderbirds

The Rams defence stops the Thunderbirds on a third-and-one gamble.

    REGINA - The University of Regina Rams showed their 6-2 regular season record last year was no illusion.

    In 2016, the Rams were guided by a first-year U Sports head coach in Steve Bryce and were coming off an 0-8 campaign in 2015. U of R posted one of the greatest single season turnarounds in U Sports history in Bryce’s first season placing first in the Canada West Conference for the first time in team history.

    In the playoffs, the Rams were one and done falling 40-34 to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in a Canada West semifinal match. Before last season, the last time the Rams posted a .500 or better record was when they went 6-2 in 2012 and lost that year’s Canada West final to the U of Calgary Dinos.

    Looking at the recent past, one might think what the Rams accomplished last season might be just a one year thing. It appears the wins are going to keep coming in 2017.

Rams receiver Mitch Thompson (#82) zips home for a major score.

    On Friday night at new Mosaic Stadium, the Rams soundly beat the Thunderbirds 36-20 before a crowd of about 3,000. At one point in the third quarter, the Rams were up 33-6.

    The Thunderbirds are guided by U Sports head coaching great Blake Nill, whose teams have won seven of the last nine Canada West titles. Nill guided the Dinos to six straight Canada West titles from 2008 to 2013 before joining the Thunderbirds in 2015. During his first year with UBC, Nill coached the Thunderbirds to a Canada West title and a Vanier Cup championship as U Sports national champions.

    Going into 2017, the Thunderbirds were ranked second in Canada West’s pre-season coaches’ poll, which means they are expected to meet the lofty bars that Nill’s teams usually do. UBC’s 3-5 regular season record from a year ago appears to have been viewed as an anomaly.

Rams LB Nick Cross sacks Thunderbirds QB Cole Meyer.

    That means the Rams, who were rated third in the pre-season Canada West coaches’ poll, pulled out a significant result in their win on Friday night.

    Besides Friday’s win over the Thunderbirds, the Rams knocked off the Dinos 39-3 in a neutral site pre-season tilt in Medicine Hat, Alta., on Aug. 23. The Dinos topped the pre-season Canada West coaches’ poll.

    Against the Thunderbirds on Friday, the Rams looked really good during a number of stretches. Like usual regular season openers, the Rams also had spots that didn’t go as smoothly shown by the fact they took 18 penalties that cost them 131 yards.

    The Thunderbirds were worse in the penalty department taking 23 infractions for 210 yards.

    Rams quarterback Noah Picton, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy last year as the most valuable player in U Sports football, was solid throughout the contest mixing up plays completing 23-of-35 passes for 335 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. One of those interceptions wasn’t his fault due to the fact one of his passes deflected off the hands of a Rams receiver into the hands of Thunderbirds defensive back Payton LaGrange.

Receiver Mitchell Picton caught six passes for 120 yards for the Rams.

  Rams receiver Mitchell Picton, who is Noah’s cousin, caught six passes for 120 yards. The Rams defence held the Thunderbirds offence to 318 yards of total offence and stopped the Thunderbirds on a key third-and-one gamble on the UBC 54 in the third quarter.

    Thunderbirds starting quarterback Michael O’Connor completed 14-of-25 passes for 155 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception before giving way to backup Cole Meyer on two occasions.

    Linebacker Cole Benkic, who was the 2015 Canadian Junior Football League’s defensive player of the year suiting up for the Saskatoon Hilltops, and defensive back Polis Koko both almost ran interceptions back for touchdowns for the Rams.

    U of R’s runaway win started slow before picking up steam. The Rams held a 1-0 after the first quartered ended thanks to kicker Thomas Huber scoring a single on a missed 37-yard field goal.

Rams quarterback Noah Picton throw a pass over a defender.

    Early in the second quarter, Noah Picton hit receiver Kyle Moortgat on a deep corner pattern for a 28-yard touchdown toss to put the Rams up 8-0. On the ensuing kickoff after the major, Daniel Scraper booted the ball into the end zone, and it was downed there to give the Rams another single to go up 9-0.

    Shortly before the midway point of the second quarter, Rams standout running back Atlee Simon pushed his way into the end zone from two yards out to put the hosts up 16-0.

    The Thunderbirds battled back when kicker Greg Hutchins booted a field goal from 41 yards out near the end of the second quarter and a field goal from 31 yards out early in the third quarter to cut the Rams lead to 16-6.

    The Rams restored order scoring 17 straight point to exit the third quarter with a 33-6 edge. Huber hit a field goal from 45 yards out, Mitch Thompson hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Picton and backup quarterback Tyler Vieira plunged in from a yard out to complete the surge.

RB Atlee Simon darts upfield for the Rams.

    Thunderbirds running back Shane Noel ran the ball in from a yard out early in the fourth quarter to cut the Rams edge to 33-13.

    Scraper hit a field goal from 15 yards out to put the Rams up 36-13.

    Inside of the game’s final three minutes, the Thunderbirds rounded out the scoring with a Hutchins 47-yard punt single and a 23-yard touchdown toss from Meyer to receiver Marcus Davis. The Thunderbirds failed to score on a two-point conversion try after Davis’s major to cement the final at 36-20.

    UBC returns to action on Sept. 9, when they host the U of Manitoba Bisons (1-0).

    Overall on Friday night, the Rams had an impressive performance. While they made mistakes that need to be corrected, it appears the Rams ability to pile up victories in 2016 will continue in 2017.

    Next up, they travel to Calgary to face the Dinos on Sept. 8. The Dinos flattened the U of Alberta Golden Bears 55-26 in the regular season opener for both those teams on Friday in Edmonton.

    If the Rams can beat the Dinos on their turf, U of R would cement its status as being a U Sports powerhouse.

Rams honour 2000 Vanier Cup finalist team

Members of the 2000 Rams and their family watch a video highlight reel.

    The Rams honoured their 2000 Canada West championship team that advanced to that year’s Vanier Cup during halftime of Friday’s game.

    A number of players from that team and their families marched out on to the field to be saluted by the fans. They also watched a video tribute filled with various highlights of the 2000 campaign.

    The 2000 season marked the Rams second season in the Canadian university ranks after moving from the CJFL. They finished 4-4 in the regular season before catching fire in the playoffs.

    They downed the Dinos 33-32 in a Canada West semifinal match, the Bisons 25-22 in the Canada West final and the St. Mary’s University Huskies 40-36 in the Atlantic Bowl. The Rams fell 42-39 in the Vanier Cup to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

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

Hilltops end up topping PFC

Saskatoon finishes first while Calgary Colts stumble

The Hilltops defence swarm in on a Rifles ball carrier.

    The stars lined up for the Saskatoon Hilltops to allow the venerable Canadian Junior Football League team to once again finish on top of the Prairie Football Conference standings.

    Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, the Hilltops needed some help when it came to finishing first in the PFC. Saskatoon needed to win its final game, while the Calgary Colts, who were holding on to top spot, needed to fall in their final outing.

    On Saturday, the Colts traveled to Edmonton and fell to the red hot Edmonton Huskies 51-35. The loss dropped the Colts to 7-2, while the Huskies improved to 6-3 riding a five-game winning streak. The Huskies last loss came back on Sept. 3, when they were thumped 43-4 by the Colts in Calgary.

    That opened the door for the Hilltops, who seized their opportunity to lock up home field advantage through the PFC portion of the post-season. On Sunday in Winnipeg at Charlie Krupp Stadium, the Hilltops thumped the Rifles 44-14. The win allowed the Hilltops, who have won six straight, to improve to 8-1 to finish on top of the PFC standings.

Hilltops quarterback Jared Andreychuk stays cool under pressure.

    Saskatoon will host a PFC semifinal match this coming Sunday against their provincial rivals the Regina Thunder at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The Thunder, who have won two straight, thrashed the Wildcats in Edmonton 69-18 to finish fourth in the PFC.

    Against the Rifles, the Hilltops went ahead 7-0 on their first offensive drive that was capped by a 10-yard touchdown run by star running back Logan Fischer.

    The Rifles tied things up at 7-7, when their star running back Michael Ritchott ran in a major score from 44 yards out.

    The Hilltops then proceeded to quickly put an end to the competitive part of the game at that point. Before the first quarter ended, they surged ahead 21-7. First, quarterback Jared Andreychuk connected with receiver Jason Price on a 22-yard touchdown strike, and then Fischer ran in a major from a yard out for his second touchdown of the day.

    In the second quarter, Andreychuk found receiver Ryan Turple for a 27-yard touchdown toss, and fullback Colin Stumborg ran in a score from five yards out to put the visitors up 35-7. The Hilltops began to liberally substitute in all their backup players from that point.

Jason Price (#83) had a 22-yard TD catch for the Hilltops.

    Saskatoon’s scoring was rounded out in the second half by a pair of field goals from James Vause, a punt single from Des Vessey and a conceded safety by the Rifles. Ritchott ran in a major score from 16 yards out to complete the Rifles scoring.

    Andreychuk completed 6-of-9 passes for 121 yards and two touchdown passes. He surpassed the 2,000 yard mark in passing for the season before being relieved by backup quarterback Jordan Walls late in the second quarter.

    Fischer piled up 57 yards rushing on eight carries in the win. Rookie Joshua Ewanchyna led the Hilltops with 104 yards rushing on 12 carries.
    Price had 134 yards receiving on four catches for Saskatoon.

    The Hilltops enter the post-season trying to win the Canadian Bowl for a third year in a row and also become the first team in history to win six CJFL titles in seven years.

Logan Fischer (#21) ran in a pair of touchdowns for the Hilltops.

    They won both their head-to-head meetings with the Thunder this season, but both encounters were tight. On Sept. 10 in Saskatoon, the Hilltops slipped past the Thunder 20-18. On Oct. 1 at old Mosaic Stadium in Regina, the Hilltops trailed the Thunder 26-16 with 2:21 to play in the fourth quarter but rallied for a 30-26 victory.

    This coming Sunday, the second place Colts host the other PFC semifinal against the third place Huskies. The Rifles missed the playoffs finishing fifth in the PFC at 2-7, while the Wildcats finished last with an 0-9 mark.

Back in the Express with the Benkics

Adam Benkic (#40) celebrates returning a fumble for a touchdown.

    I was back in the Saskatoon Express this past week with a story on brothers Adam and Cole Benkic of the Saskatoon Hilltops.

    The story focused more on Adam, who went from playing quarterback in high school to outside linebacker with the Hilltops. Adam is in his third year with the Hilltops and has seen his role with the club increase in starting most of the team’s games.

    Cole is in his fifth and final season with the Hilltops. Last year, he was named the CJFL’s defensive player of the year, and coming into this season, he was rated number one in a promotion that listed the league’s top 50 players.

    Unfortunately for Cole, he injured his leg in a pedal bike crash in the off-season, and hasn’t suited up for any of the Hilltops regular season games. He is close to returning, but is still officially week-to-week.

Cole Benkic in action for the Hilltops last season.

    Cole has been at all the Hilltops practices and games helping the rest of the team’s linebackers with coaching tips. In his absence, middle linebacker Cameron Schnitzler and outside linebackers Cody Peters, Bobby Ehman and Adam Benkic have all improved greatly.

    Schnitzler and Peters have both had stellar seasons. Peters had really become a beast on the outside.
    When Cole returns, the Hilltops linebackers will become that much stronger.

    The story on the Benkic brothers can be found right here.

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

Hilltops to find out who will be "the guy"

Cole Benkic was the CJFL's top defensive player in 2015.

    When you’re the venerable Saskatoon Hilltops, a mass exodus of players equals opportunity.

    The Toppers lost 16 players due to graduation from the Canadian Junior Football League championship squad from a season ago. A handful of others moved on to other teams namely in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport ranks.

    As head coach Tom Sargeant and the rest of his staff look at their newcomers and returning players, they have to feel a little excitement, because you wonder who in that group will be “the guy.” They have to know someone new or a returning backup is going to be “the guy,” and that person might not necessarily be someone you expect.

    Most of the Hilltops departing players were starters, but for a club that has won 18 national championships, rebuilding and reloading usually isn’t a very long process. The Toppers will be doing their best to be the first team to win six CJFL championships in seven years.

    During the regular season, the Hilltops are always pretty good at getting all their players on the field in games where they are running away on the scoreboard. Thanks to those moves, backups are usually ready to jump into a starting role, when a starter graduates. As a result, you could have a number of players turn out to be “the guy.”

    The Hilltops are always strong when it comes to recruiting, so there is always the possibility a rookie will step in right away and make an impact.

Quarterback Jared Andreychuk threads a pass down field for the Hilltops.

    Even with that in mind, the cupboard isn’t bare. Fifth year star quarterback Jared Andreychuk is back to lead the offence, and linebacker Cole Benkic, who was last year’s CJFL defensive player of the year, is back for his final season to guide the defence. Both will provide a steady influence on their respective units.

    Beast-type running back Logan Fischer returns for his fourth season, and fifth-year veteran receiver Tyson Sawatzky will be a key downfield target.

    On the defensive line, Blake Hermann and Tom Schnitzler are both back from a unit that was outstanding a season ago. They will likely once again cause grief for the quarterbacks of opposing teams.

    Besides containing Benkic, the Hilltops return some other strong linebackers in Cole’s brother, Adam Benkic, and Bobby Ehman. The secondary will be steadied by the leadership of James Vause, who will likely start full time at safety.

    The Hilltops will have to find a kicker due to losing Brett Thorarinsson to graduation, and he handled all those duties last season.

Running back Logan Fischer powers his way up field for the Hilltops.

    As the season moves on, the Hilltops will improve due to having one of the best coaching staffs you will find on any team. Sargeant has lots of support behind him in the likes of defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie, offensive coordinator Sheldon Ball and special teams coordinator Matt Yausie.

    The Hilltops get things going for their 70^th season as their main training camp opens on Monday at 1 p.m. at Ron Atchison Field. Their alumni game is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, and they open the regular season on Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field against the Winnipeg Rifles.

    It is always fun watching the Hilltops play on a Sunday afternoon at SMF Field during summer and fall, and it be cool to see if they can add another chapter to their storied history.

Will Rams versus Huskies draw at new Mosaic?

QB Noah Picton (#4) and the Rams will open new Mosaic Stadium.

    The University of Regina Rams were successful in obtaining the right to host the first game at the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina, but you have to wonder if it will be the draw the Saskatchewan football community hopes it will be.

    On Oct. 1, the Rams host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies at 2 p.m. in the inaugural game at the new Mosaic Stadium called the SaskTel Fall Classic. Ticket sales for the contest will be limited to 16,500, but you have to wonder if that game will reach that lofty attendance total.

    Since the Rams joined the Canadian Interuniversity Sport ranks in 1999, they along with the Huskies have had various promotions to try and spike attendance for one game to the 10,000 mark, but have come up unsuccessful. Since 1999, the biggest crowd for a university level football game in Saskatchewan has been hosted by the Huskies, who crammed 12,567 spectators to the 2006 Vanier Cup at Griffiths Stadium. The host Huskies fell in that national final to the Universite Laval Rouge et Or 13-8.

    Going into the 2016 campaign, the biggest selling point of the Oct. 1 match between the Huskies and Rams is the fact they will be playing in Regina’s new stadium, which will be best known as the home of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

    The Rams are coming off a dismal and from accounts in Regina a dysfunctional 2015 season, where they were 0-8. Their attendance for their final two regular season home games at the old Mosaic Stadium were far from spectacular.

    On Oct. 17, 2015, the Rams drew 1,200 to their 49-46 loss to the University of Manitoba Bisons. The Rams closed the 2015 campaign drawing 1,100 to a 38-37 home loss to the Huskies on Oct. 30.

    Those figures are far from what the Rams drew during the days they had quarterback Darryl Leason, slotback Jason Clermont and running back Neal Hughes on their roster in 2000 when they appeared in the Vanier Cup and in 2001.

Huskies RB Shane Buchanan hits a wall of Rams tacklers.

    The Huskies 2015 campaign fell short of pre-season expectations, and they almost missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Had the Huskies lost their Oct. 30, 2015 clash with the Rams, U of S would have missed the post-season. The Rams led that contest 34-11 late in the third quarter before the Huskies rallied for victory.

    Huskies fans usually follow their team down from Saskatoon to Regina for games, but U of S saw its home attendance slip during a 3-5 regular season campaign.

    In 2015, the Huskies season high in attendance came in a 33-18 victory over the Rams on a Sept. 18 clash at Griffiths Stadium with 6,476 spectators. The Huskies drew 4,254 spectators to a 44-15 loss on Oct. 16 to the University of Calgary Dinos and 3,179 fans to a 41-36 loss to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Oct. 23.

    There is also a sizable minority among the Huskies supporters who heap piles of criticism on the team for going 1-10 in their last 11 playoff games, which includes a current seven game post-season losing streak. The notion that those supporters might make it to Regina to see the Huskies play is questionable. In Saskatoon, the Huskies receive the same level of scrutiny as a WHL team.

    Social media posts and press releases about the SaskTel Fall Classic keep saying tickets for the Oct. 1, 2016 clash between the Rams and Huskies are expected to go fast. That statement is highly doubtful.

    Personally, I would love to see the Rams and Huskies draw over 30,000 to SaskTel Fall Classic, but that is likely not reality.

    One thing that might boost attendance is making that clash between the Rams and Huskies a doubleheader with the CJFL teams from Regina and Saskatoon. The defending CJFL champion Saskatoon Hilltops are slated to be in Regina on Oct. 1 to take on the Thunder. That contest is set for 7 p.m. at old Mosaic Stadium, and obviously, starts after the Rams versus Huskies game is slated to finish.

    It might be prudent to get the Hilltops versus Thunder game moved to new Mosaic Stadium for a doubleheader and market everything as a football day in Regina. The chances of approaching an attendance figure of 16,500 would increase greatly if one had the chance to see all four of Saskatchewan’s post-secondary teams at one time.

Back in the Express with Kiselyk

Marci Kiselyk smiles after scoring a TD.

    I was back in the Saskatoon Express this week with a feature story on Marci Kiselyk, who a star receiver for the Saskatoon Valkyries women’s football team.

    Kiselyk reflects on the Valkyries 2016 Western Women’s Canadian Football League championship campaign and the fact she has played for the Valkyries in all six seasons of their existence. She joined the Valkyries after playing five seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s basketball team.

    The feature led into the fact that Kiselyk will suit up for Saskatchewan’s provincial team for the inaugural Senior Women’s National Championship that is being put on by Football Canada right now in Regina. Saskatchewan will face Quebec in the event’s championship game on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at old Mosaic Stadium.

    On Thursday, Saskatchewan blanked New Brunswick 58-0 in a semifinal match. Kiselyk caught nine passes for 171 yards and scores three touchdowns in the win.

    My Saskatoon Express story on Kiselyk can be found right here.

Schlenker off to “The Show”

Chris Schlenker will referee in the NHL.

    It is official, Chris Schlenker, who won the Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy this past season as the top official in the WHL, is heading to the NHL.

    CTV Lethbridge senior reporter Kaella Carr traveled to Medicine Hat to interview Schlenker, who is a member of the Medicine Hat Police Service, and he confirmed the news he has signed on to work in the NHL. He will take a leave of absence from the Medicine Hat Police Service starting at the end of August.

    Schlenker, who is from Medicine Hat, played in the WHL from 2001 to 2005 with the Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders. Carr worked for CTV Prince Albert, when Schlenker was a member of the Raiders.

    Both Carr and Schlenker were highly respected by the residents of Prince Albert during their time in that northern Saskatchewan city. Carr’s story on Schlenker heading to the NHL was outstanding. It can be found 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.