Valkyries overcame adversities in perfect 2023 campaign

QB Alex Eyolfson (#15) calls a play in the Valkyries’ huddle.

In no particular order, leadership, depth and coaching saw the Saskatoon Valkyries through to a perfect season in 2023.

Saskatoon’s powerhouse women’s football team never seemed to lose a step navigating towards an 8-0 overall record. The Valkyries concluded the campaign on Saturday blanking the Calgary Rage 40-0 in the WWCFL Championship Game at Griffiths Stadium.

The win marked the third consecutive time the Valkyries claimed the WWCFL title and the eighth time overall since the league’s inception in 2011.

The Valkyries were challenged along the way in 2023. On May 14, they traveled to Winnipeg and grinded out a 26-14 victory over an inspired Manitoba Fearless side. On June 18 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries had to hold off their provincial rivals the Regina Riot 19-9 in the Prairie Conference final.

Michelle Duchene, left, has put in countless hours building female football. 

As the Valkyries were going about their business in a convincing win over the Rage, another realization hit looking at the Saskatoon sidelines at Griffiths Stadium on Saturday. There were some important star players helping out on the Valkyries bench area wearing their game uniforms over their street clothes.

That was a sign that those players were kept out of game action due to various injuries. Some of those players who were out missed a sizable part of the campaign due to their injuries.

HC Pat Barry and his staff have kept the Valkyries rolling.

Arguably, the biggest missing player was star fourth year receiver Haley Girolami, who might be the best pass catcher in the women’s game in Canada. In the Valkyries regular season opening 34-7 win over the Riot on May 7 at SMF Field, Girolami hauled in nine passes for 111 yards and one touchdown.

She was so impressive in that game one wondered just how good of a season she was going to have in 2023. Just seven days later in the Valkyries road win over the Fearless, Girolami was lost for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.

The Valkyries were also without star receiver Rachelle Smith for the entire regular season and post-season. The WWCFL veteran is a big time playmaker who was on all three of the Riot’s WWCFL title winning teams before joining the Valkyries for their WWCFL Championship season in 2019 and has remained with the Saskatoon side since.

The loss of Haley Girolami to injury was a big blow to the Valkyries.

On defence, star linebacker Jamie Wingate missed the entire regular season and post-season due to injury. Her absence left a sizable hole on the defence.

Rookie defensive back Kaylin O’Neill went down with a leg injury in the Valkyries regular season win over the Fearless. Savanna Spendiff was excelling in her first year playing on the Valkyries offensive line, but she went down with a knee injury in the Prairie Conference final win over the Riot.

Those types of injuries would have put any other team’s championship aspirations on ice. The Valkyries were able to march on due to their depth.

QB Alex Eyolfson gave positive leadership to the Valkyries offence.

That depth partially came from the work of the only general manager the Valkyries have ever known in Michelle Duchene and the countless hours she has spent building women’s football in Saskatoon. The female flag football system operated through Saskatoon Minor Football has helped funnel players to the Valkyries. Duchene’s leadership helped make that possible.

The Valkyries coaching staff under the direction of head coach Pat Barry has brought newcomers up to speed quickly when it comes to learning the game. That has helped build the Valkyries depth.

Emmarae Dale, left, gave upbeat leadership to the Valkyries defence.

Barry is aided by an astute staff that includes defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton and Marci Halseth and Jack Sloboda, who shared in the offensive coordinator duties. The coaching staff has ensured new players are ready to step in and make an impact when injuries happen.

On the field, the Valkyries have been able to rely on the leadership of a couple of players who joined the club as youngsters in the team’s 2016 WWCFL title winning campaign in quarterback Alex Eyolfson and middle linebacker Emmarae Dale.

Sarah Wright continued to pile up big yards for the Valkyries.

Right from when she joined the Valkyries, Eyolfson has and continues to radiate a vibe that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright even if things go wrong. She quickly mastered guiding an offence, and she might be the best quarterback in the women’s game in Canada.

Dale immediately displayed an uplifting vibe and a positive demeanor. She still displays an explosive athletic ability that turns heads and saw her join the CJFL’s storied and historic Saskatoon Hilltops for the 2021 campaign. Dale might be the best in the women’s game in Canada today.

The presence of Eyolfson and Dale everything on the field stays sorted out and in order. They were aided by a good core group that has been together since 2019.

Makayla Sader has become part of the Valkyries core group.

On offence, the Valkyries were still able to turn to star running back Sarah Wright and veteran star pass catchers Ricki Obed and Reed Thorstad to make plays. The offensive line is anchored by four star veterans in right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, centre Alex Wojcichowsky, left guard Lauren Ferguson and left tackle Alyssa Funk.

On defence, Danaye Holynski continues to create havoc for the opposition at defensive end. The defence has been bolstered with a couple of veteran receivers switching over to defensive back in Kelsey Murphy and Danielle Girolami.

The Valkyries are progressing to the point where a large group of players in their second and third years with the team can now be considered as steady veterans who are part of the core group. That group includes receiver/kicker Grace McCorriston, running back/kicker Drew Lundquist and utility player Arden Kliewer.

Grace McCorriston (#82) has become a solid receiver and kicker.

Defensive back Makayla Sader, linebackers Jackie Semple-Dyck, Kennedy Mann and Sydney Schenn are now part of that core group too along with Emry Halbgewachs and Grace Farthing on the defensive line. 

Returnee defensive tackle Carla Stevenson has become part of that core group too. She helped the Valkyries win a WWCFL title in their second year of existence in 2012, took a leave of absence from the team before rejoining the club in 2021.

Rookies came through for the Valkyries too in 2023. Brianna Hammett on the offensive line, Michaella Applin on the defensive line, Mykayla Laroque at cornerback and Jaimyn Mantyka at safety all stepped in to give the Valkyries big performances.

Thanks to leadership, depth and coaching, the Valkyries were able to overcome some fairly key injuries and preserver in a couple of tough games that could have sent the season in another direction. The undefeated Valkyries ended becoming better in their journey of overcoming the adversity they faced.

The Valkyries celebrate a third straight WWCFL title on Saturday.

It is expected they will return a strong core of players in 2024. That should give them a good start in their quest for a four-peat, which the team accomplished in the WWCFL’s first four years of existence from 2011 to 2014.

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Valkyries on cusp of last dance for 2023 season

Saskatoon aims to win third straight WWCFL title Saturday

Sarah Wright is having another big season for the Valkyries.

It will all be about taking care of business in the present for the Saskatoon Valkyries on Saturday.

The Valkyries are set to host the Calgary Rage in the WWCFL Championship Game on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon is looking to win a third consecutive league title with the previous wins in this run coming last year and in 2019.

The WWCFL’s 2020 and 2021 campaigns were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that gripped the world. The Valkyries were able to play a three-game exhibition series against their provincial rivals the Regina Riot in 2021.

On top of going for a third consecutive title, the Valkyries are trying to win their eighth league title in team history having joined the WWCFL in its inaugural campaign in 2011.

With the Valkyries having so much success in their history, head coach Pat Barry was asked how special this opportunity was for the team’s rookies like defensive back Mykayla Laroque. Barry didn’t want to discount how important it is to have the opportunity to play in the WWCFL’s title game for everyone on the team’s roster.

QB Alex Eyolfson aims to lead the Valkyries to another WWCFL title.

“It is special for all of us,” said Barry. “You never know when you are going to get back.

“We do have a lot of new people on our team, especially in our defensive backfield. “Rocky” (Laroque) is one of them. I was sort of counting on our roster earlier in the year, and more than half of our team never played in 2019.

“It is a pretty young team actually that we have here.”

The Valkyries head into this contest having won their last 26 games in a row including two forfeit victories. Their last loss game way back on June 24, 2018, when they dropped a 14-10 decision to the Riot in that year’s WWCFL title game held at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. Saskatoon has a 7-0 overall in the 2023 campaign.

The Rage enter the WWCFL title game with a 4-1 overall record. Their lone loss came in a pre-season game in Calgary on April 22, when they fell 50-2 against the Valkyries.

MLB Emmarae Dale (#45) keeps piling up big plays for the Valkyries.

Calgary’s only appearance to date in the WWCFL final came back on June 10, 2017 taking on the Riot at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in a neutral site clash. The Rage turned the ball over 10 times in that contest and were blanked 53-0.

Despite what has transpired in the past, Valkyries star running back Sarah Wright believes her team can’t be going into the WWCFL title clash thinking everything is going to fall into place. Wright said the Valkyries want to come out and play their best.

“Big last game, (and) we’re excited,” said Wright. “We played Calgary in our pre-season game.

“We’re excited to see them back in the final and to show why Saskatchewan football is so good.”

The Valkyries defensive unit is good at swarming to the ball.

Last year, the Valkyries dumped the Winnipeg based Manitoba Fearless 36-6 in the WWCFL title game held at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. The last time a WWCFL title game was held at Griffiths Stadium was way back on July 5, 2014, when the Valkyries blanked the Lethbridge Steel 53-0.

The Valkyries enter this year’s WWCFL title game loaded with talent. Star quarterback Alex Eyolfson is in her prime.

Along with being able to look to Wright and Drew Lundquist to make big plays in the running game, the Valkyries can look to get a boost from a trio of big play receivers in Reed Thorstad, Ricki Obed and Grace McCorriston. Star receiver Haley Girolami has missed the majority of the campaign with a knee injury and is out for Saturday’s game.

The offensive line is anchored by star veterans in Betsy Mawdsley at right tackle, Alex Wojcichowsky at centre, Lauren Ferguson and left guard and Alyssa Funk at left tackle.

Receiver Reed Thorstad (#12) can make big catches in traffic.

Star middle linebacker Emmarae Dale leads the Valkyries defensive unit. Dale’s efforts in the linebacking corps are complimented by Kennedy Mann and Jackie Semple-Dyck. Star defensive end Danaye Holynski also makes a lot of big plays for the Valkyries, while Emry Halbgewachs also brings big pressure from the defensive end spot.

Defensive tackles Carla Stevenson and Michaella Applin are tasked with taking on multiple blocks to occupy players on the opposing offensive line so their teammates can make plays.

Kelsey Murphy, who was a rookie when the Valkyries won the 2014 title, and Danielle Girolami make plays as the veteran presence in the defensive secondary. The Valkyries defensive secondary relies on athletic youngsters like third-year defensive back Makayla Sader, rookie safety Jaimyn Mantyka and Laroque at boundary cornerback.

Barry expects the Rage will be much improved since their pre-season encounter with the Valkyries in April. He is expecting his squad will be in for a physical battle on Saturday.

The Valkyries hope to have a few big play celebrations on Saturday.

“We got to play them in a pre-season game,” said Barry. “We’ll find out how the rest of their season went.

“We think we know a little bit about them. We’ll have to prepare for them. They have some very good athletes on their team, and we’ll have to be ready for them.”

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Holynski plays with passion and intensity for Valkyries family

Rookie season in 2019 had big impact on defensive standout

Danaye Holynski (#55) has been a stellar DE for the Valkyries.

Danaye Holynski always tries to live out the belief that one of her early coaches with the Saskatoon Valkyries had in her.

Holynski joined the Valkyries defensive line as a rookie in 2019 after starting on the defensive line with the Tommy Douglas Collegiate Tigers Football Team and toiling on the Valkyries practice roster in 2018. While playing as a starter on a high school boys tackle football team would help Holyski in transitioning to the powerhouse Valkyries of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, she remembered one position coach wouldn’t let her ride on past accomplishments.

Holynski recalled that as she got going in the 2019 campaign she was really challenged by defensive position coach Justin Filteau. There were times Holynski felt she was doing good but wasn’t doing good enough.

On June 1, 2019, Filteau passed away in a plane crash one day before the Valkyries played their final regular season contest of that campaign against the Riot in Regina. Filteau had been at a social function in Medicine Hat, Alta., and was flying to Moose Jaw, Sask., and planned to meet up with the Valkyries for that final regular season game. The Valkyries would gut out a 22-7 victory over the Riot after finding out the news about Filteau.

Five days later after a team practice, Holynski was named the team’s “Treat of the Week” award winner for her efforts in a 37-0 victory over the Manitoba Fearless in Winnipeg on May 26, 2019. Word came from the Valkyries coaches that Filteau was pushing hard for Holynski to be named the winner of the weekly team award. That would happen to be the last game he coached with the Valkyries.

It hit Holynski at the time how important it was to have had Filteau as her position coach and that feeling has only grown over time.

“It was awesome,” said Holynski, whose Valkyries (2-0) host the Winnipeg Wolfpack (0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. “He was on me, and it was stressful at times.

Danaye Holynski (#55) is a playmaker of the Valkyries defence.

“Now that I look back, it was because he saw a player I didn’t see yet. Now that I look back, it was awesome. He pushed me past what I thought I was able to do, because he believed in me.

“That I will forever keep close to my heart that he pushed me that hard.”

As a rookie, Holynski made explosive and hard hitting plays to help the Valkyries post a perfect 9-0 record in winning their sixth WWCFL championship in that season. These days Holynski has become a dominate player on the Valkyries defensive line often lining up at one of the end positions.

Her style of play is near identical to that Bobby Jurasin, who starred at defensive end for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1986 to 1997. Holynski helped the Valkyries win their seventh WWCFL championship in 2022, and she played for Canada that year in the International Federation of American Football’s Women’s World Championship that ran in late July and early August of that year in Vantaa, Finland.

After Filteau’s passing, Holynski said you saw in a big way the Valkyries being family. The team dedicated the 2019 campaign to Filteau.

Holynski said the team’s leadership played a huge role in helping everyone come together and cope with Filteau’s passing. On defence, some of the key leaders from that season included Jaime Lammerding, Beth Lalonde, Emmarae Dale and Ehjae Chan.

That rookie season left at lasting impact on Holynski.

Danaye Holynski (#55) makes a tackle in the 2023 WWCFL final.

“It was an amazing first year,” said Holynski, who stands 5-foot-6. “Unfortunately, we lost Filteau that year, but I think that brought our team together on a whole different level.”

These days the 22-year-old Holynski is one of the Valkyries veterans. She looks to help the team’s newcomers on the field and ensure they feel accepted on the team.

“I feel like I definitely try to,” said Holynski. “I try to be a role model as much as I possibly can.

“I try to help them out if needed.”

Overall, Holynski said the team still has the same family feeling and vibe as it did when she was a rookie. She often still sees herself like she did in her rookie year.

“Honestly, it feels the same,” said Holynski. “It doesn’t feel much different.

“I think everyone we all look at each other at the same level. Obviously, we look up to each other, but we don’t really look down on each other. It kind of feels the same nothing too different.”

Valkyries head coach Pat Barry said you could see early on the Holynski was going to be a gifted player, when she first started practicing with the team.

“I’ve known Danaye for a long time,” said Barry. “She played tackle football in high school at Tommy Douglas with the boys.

Danaye Holynski (#55) teams up on a stop in the 2023 WWCFL final.

“She was a starter on that team. She was an exceptional wrestler. I coached her in junior Huskies for a number of years.

“Just seeing her when she started being a practice roster player for us you could see she was going to be pretty special.”

Barry said experience and being focused on off-season training has helped make Holynski a better player over the years. The sideline boss said his defensive line star causes a lot of matchup problems for opposing teams. Along with what Holynski can do physically on the field, Barry said a leadership role is coming naturally to her as well.

“Even though she is young, she is a leader on our team already, so that is exciting,” said Barry. “She is such a positive person too.

“She has so much fun out here that it is just great to have her in that leadership role.”

Before taking the field for the Tigers, Holynski got her start in the tackle game playing in Saskatoon Minor Football’s six-a-side program, so she has been playing the sport for over a decade. She loves everything about the game and would like to play for Canada at the next women’s worlds, which are set to be held in 2026 with the location and dates still to be announced.

Holynski knows she is hitting that adult age where things can change year to year, but she is planning to keep going in the sport for the foreseeable future.

“I’m planning to play next worlds or at least tryout,” said Holynski. “My body has taken a beating with 12 years of playing.

Danaye Holynski (#55) holds up the WWCFL championship trophy.

“I’m going to try and push it out until the next Team Canada for sure.”

NOTES – Sunday’s game against the Wolfpack will be the Valkyries’ Teal game. The Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope Committee, Saskatoon, will be on hand to bring more awareness about this deadly disease. The team will be raising funds to fight Ovarian cancer.  

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Valkyries give Lammerding WWCFL title winning sendoff

Saskatoon downs Fearless 36-6 for seventh league crown

Jaime Lammerding raises the WWCFL championship trophy.

Jaime Lammerding’s playing days with the Saskatoon Valkyries wrapped up with a familiar championship high.

On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries romped past the Manitoba Fearless 36-6 in the WWCFL Championship Game. The Valkyries have won the WWCFL title seven out of the 10 times it has been handed out, and Lammerding has played on all of Saskatoon’s championship teams.

The star defensive tackle began playing for the Valkyries in their inaugural season back in 2011 when the first WWCFL season was played. She was elated to wrap up her playing career with a championship win at home.

Jaime Lammerding runs off the field for the final time.

“It is just an extra special treat,” said Lammerding, whose Valkyries completed the 2022 campaign with a perfect 7-0 record. “I remember starting with the Valkyries 12 years ago.

“Just to be able to do it at home and go out on top, it is almost undescribable it is so great.”

Inside of the game’s final 10 seconds, the Valkyries head coach Pat Barry ensured Lammerding got a final salute from the crowd in attendance. With the Valkyries on defence, Barry called a timeout to substitute Lammerding out of the game.

She came off to the sideline to a rousing ovation from the crowd and her teammates on the Valkyries sidelines. Once she reached the Valkyries bench area, Lammerding hugged defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton, Barry and then numerous other coaches and players on the squad.

Jaime Lammerding, left, hugs Valkyries DC Wyatt Carleton.

“The original plan was that I was going to go take the victory formation as quarterback, so I was going to get my old rep as quarterback in my career with negative yardage,” said Lammerding. “It just didn’t work out that way, so it was nice that they pulled me out to just have an emotional kind of run off kind of thing.

“It was great.”

Barry said the Valkyries were pretty motivated to help Lammerding, who is also the president of the WWCFL, conclude her playing days on a championship winning high.

Jaime Lammerding, left, hugs Valkyries HC Pat Barry.

“We all feel very strongly about her,” said Barry, who team has won 19 straight games overall. “She is such a great leader.

“She is a great mentor for the athletes on our team. She is just going to be the next in line of someone who is working with women’s football. We have a number of coaches on our team who are former players, and they are great coaches.

“They are grass roots coaches, and they do a lot of great things. I see ‘Dinger’ (Lammerding) being that in the future.”

In the WWCFL Championship game itself, the Valkyries steadily pulled away from the Fearless in order to win by a convincing margin.

Jaime Lammerding (#21) is pictured with the Valkyries D-line.

At the 9:27 mark of the first quarter, Valkyries star running back Sarah Wright ran home a touchdown from six yards out to give the host side a 7-0 lead. Wright’s major score capped a drive that covered 94 yards.

That drive was also kept alive by Wright running for a first down on a third down gamble.

Before the first quarter came to an end, the Valkyries extended their lead to 14-0, when star quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit veteran receiver Ricki Obed with an 18-yard touchdown toss.

Sarah Wright runs in the Valkyries first touchdown.

Just 59 seconds into the second quarter, Eyolfson hit second-year receiver Grace McCorriston on a beauty over the shoulder fade pattern in the end zone for a 16-yard scoring strike. The Valkyries lead stood at 20-0, when the ensuing conversion attempt was muffed.

With 4:45 remaining in the second quarter, the Valkyries defence hit the scoreboard with middle linebacker Emmarae Dale returning an interception 64 yards for a touchdown. The Valkyries went for a two-point conversion attempt, but Eyolfson’s pass attempt was incomplete to make the score sit at 26-0 for the host side.

Wright thought the Valkyries got great contributions from everyone on their roster.

“Honestly, the Fearless are a great team, and they are getting better each year, and we can’t take that for granted,” said Wright. “As we came into this week, we knew that everyone had a job to do, and they are obviously watching film and studying us.

Alex Eyolfson threw three TD passes for the Valkyries.

“We kind of had to come up with some different plays and different looks, and those worked today.”

In the third quarter, McCorriston hit a field goal from 30 yards out to increase the Valkyries lead to 29-0. Before the stanza expired, Eyolfson connected with Obed for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the Valkyries a 36-0 advantage.

The Fearless got on the scoreboard at the 3:50 mark of the fourth quarter when quarterback Madison Siwicki hit receiver Morgan Moffatt with an eight-yard touchdown toss. The ensuing conversion attempt was blocked making the final score round out at 36-6.

Before Saturday’s contest, the Valkyries won the WWCFL title the last time it was contested back in 2019.

The 2020 and 2021 WWCFL campaigns were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world. The Valkyries were able to get on the field in 2021 winning all the contests in a three-game exhibition series against the Regina Riot.

Grace McCorriston (#82) sets to make a touchdown catch.

Barry said it meant a lot to the team to win the champions at home with everything that has happened over the past couple of years, because the moment could be enjoyed with family and friends. The Valkyries also hadn’t won a WWCFL title at home since 2014, when they captured the league crown at Griffiths Stadium on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

The Valkyries began playing their home games out of SMF Field at the start of the 2015 campaign.

“It feels so good to have something that feels kind of normal again,” said Barry. “We’re super excited about it.

“We’ve never won a championship on this field. It has never happened. This is a first for us for our team.

The fans at SMF Field cheer on the Valkyries.

“I’m very happy. I’m so proud of the whole team.”

Wright was named the game’s most valuable player for the Valkyries carrying the ball 20 times for 157 yards and one touchdown. She also had a 14 yard catch to go with her production along the ground.

The multipurpose running back was surprised to be named the game’s MVP for her team.

“I definitely think that there were a few other girls that played their heart out today, and we’re very deserving of it,” said Wright. “I’ll take it, but again, it was definitely a team environment and group.

Danaye Holynski (#55) had 12.5 total tackles for the Valkyries.

“There were a handful of girls that should have got that too.”

Having joined the Valkyries in 2017, Wright was part of the championship win in 2019, and she pumped to win the WWCFL title in 2019.

“I’m so happy,” said Wright. “It is so great to be at home actually.

“Having everyone come on to the field and we’re able to talk to everyone, it means the world. When they (the hometown fans) are cheering so loud in the stands, that brings that environment, and I feel like that definitely played into the game today.”

Eyolfson finished the contest completing 16-of-27 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns without throwing any interceptions. 

Ricki Obed had 107 yards receiving and two TDs for the Valkyries.

Obed led all receivers with eight catches for 107 yards and scored two touchdowns. She also carried the ball twice for eight yards and returned three punts for 24 yards.

Siwicki completed 11-of-23 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown, while throwing two interceptions for the Fearless. Running back Hallie Eggie was named the game MVP for the Fearless carrying the ball 18 times for 60 yards.

Valkyries defensive end Danaye Holynski piled up a game high 12.5 total tackles in the win. Dale had eight total tackles to go with her interception for a touchdown.

Saskatoon safety Kelsey Murphy had an interception, while defensive backs Rienna Rueve and Kendal Matheson each had one fumble recovery.

Kelsey Murphy (#85) makes an interception for the Valkyries.

Defensive back Taylor Post topped the Fearless with 7.5 total tackles.

The Fearless entered Saturday’s game riding a five-game winning streak and finished the 2022 campaign with a 5-2 mark.

For the Valkyries, the biggest memory from Saturday’s contest will be the fact that Lammerding was able to conclude her playing time on a championship winning note. Wright was pleased she could help Lammerding go out on a high.

“She (Lammerding) means pretty much everything,” said Wright. “She has been around since the inauguration of our team.

The Valkyries celebrate winning the WWCFL Championship Game.

“Every year she has been sort of a grounding person and honestly the focal point of our family environment. She is pretty much the program, so we will take her in the future however she can come coach wise or anywise. She is just an anchor point.”

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Valkyries win away from first place finish in conference

Provincial rivals Riot stand in the way of top spot

Veteran Valkyries DT Jaime Lammerding (#21) enjoys playing the Riot.

When Jaime Lammerding first suited up for the Saskatoon Valkyries in the team’s inaugural season in 2011, she never expected to be playing in provincial rivalry games against the Regina Riot 11 years later.

“I don’t know if I ever thought quite that far ahead,” said Lammerding, who is the Valkyries veteran star defensive tackle. “I always knew that I would play for a few years, and eventually I would kind of be done.

“This is going to be it for me. This is going to be the last year.”

If this truly ends up being Lammerding’s last year, the upcoming clash with the Riot has that familiar big game feeling. On Saturday, the Valkyries (2-0) and Riot (1-1) are slated to go at it in a WWCFL regular season clash at Saskatoon Minor Football Field. If the Valkyries pull out a win in that contest, they will lock up a first place finish in the WWCFL’s Prairie Conference.

If the Riot wins, the Valkyries will have a second chance to lock up first place, when they go at it again with the Regina side on Saturday, June 4 at 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. That June 4 encounter closes the respective regular season schedule for both sides.

“Playing Regina is always a focal point of our season, because they are our provincial rivals,” said Barry. “They are always well coached.

“We look forward to it. It is always a challenge for us, and they pose some problems for us. We have to make sure we are ready for it.”

Emmarae Dale (#45) anchors the Valkyries defence.

Lammerding along with linebacker Beth (Thomson) Lalonde are the only two players that have taken the field for the Valkyries from the team’s inaugural campaign in 2011 to the present. Even after all these years, Lammerding said the excitement and anticipation of playing the Riot is still there.

Still, there are signs time is marching on. Former Riot star players Claire Dore, Shelby Moran, Adrienne Zuck and Katie Hungle are all assistant coaches with the Regina side now.

Star receiver Alex Kowalski is the longest tenured player on a relatively younger Riot side with nine years of experience with the team. Jessie Noname on the defensive line is the second most tenured player with the Riot with eight years of experience playing with the club.

The Riot are able to lean on a few other standout veterans in defensive back Ashley Clayton, Hailee Raffey on the offensive line and Kyla Krenbrink at receiver.

“It is different now,” said Lammerding. “There are not as many people who started there as there was anymore, but there are still familiar faces.

“I think we all get excited to play each other – that battle of Saskatchewan, that classic play a game between Saskatoon and Regina. Everybody gets excited for it.”

The Valkyries have their share of first and second year players too. With that noted, Saskatoon still has a strong presence of standout veterans.

Sarah Wright is a steady power running back for the Valkyries.

The offence include star starting quarterback Alex Eyolfson, star receiver and backup quarterback Reed Thorstad and power running back Sarah Wright and sure handed pass catchers Haley Girolami, Ricki Obed and Rachelle Smith.

The offensive line is anchored by left tackle Alyssa Funk, right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, left guard Ashley Viklund, right guard Lauren Ferguson and centre Alex Wojcichowsky.

Smith and Viklund were also former members of the Riot.

Defensively, the Valkyries are anchored by star middle linebacker Emmarae Dale and third year defensive end Danaye Holynski to go along with long time contributions of Lammerding and Lalonde.

Barry said the Valkyries are fortunate that Lammerding and Lalonde just keep going.

“Those two athletes, like they are so special,” said Barry. “Talking about ‘Dinger,’ I’m just so proud to be her coach.

“She is such a great leader. She is such a positive person. She is such a great role model for all of our athletes and for everyone in our league.”

If the Valkyries lock up first place in the Prairie Conference, they will have home field advantage through the entire WWCFL playoffs. Saskatoon hosts the WWCFL championship game on June 25 with an expected 1 p.m. start time.

The WWCFL campaigns in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the Valkyries and Riot did play a three game exhibition series in 2021. The Valkyries won the WWCFL title the last time it was contested in 2019.

Danaye Holynksi makes a tonne of plays at defensive end.

In order to finish first this season, Lammerding said her squad has to focus on the task at hand in playing the Riot and the ups and downs that will come in that contest. She expects the Riot will make their share of big plays in the upcoming encounters.

“Football is one of those games you never know what is going to happen,” said Lammerding. “It could come down to one play.

“It could come down to three or four plays in a game. People can surprise you. Games can surprise you.

“You can never go into anything expecting anything. You just have to play it by ear and do what you can to make sure you are successful at the end.”

Valkyries to honour alums and first head coach Yausie

Jeff Yausie, left, on the Valkyries sideline in May 2016.

The Saskatoon Valkyries will have some familiar faces in the stands for their final regular season home game.

When the Valkyries host the Regina Riot at 7 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, they will be honouring the alumnae of the club as well as the team’s founders and first head coach in Jeff Yausie. Yausie guided the Valkyries as their head coach from the squads inaugural season in 2011 to 2016, which included five WWCFL championship wins in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

He remained with the Valkyries for one more campaign in 2017 as defensive coordinator.

“I think it is always great to have our alumnae come out and be able to show them kind of what they’ve built and how far we’ve come from that and that we’re still succeeding,” said star defensive tackle Jaime Lammerding, who has played for the Valkyries since their inaugural campaign. “Jeff (Yausie) of course was here from the very, very beginning.

“I don’t think we would have been anywhere near where we are today, if it wasn’t for him. To kind of be able to showcase what he built I think is great.”

Team Canada loaded with Valkyries and Riot

Alyssa Funk (#56) made Canada’s National Women’s Football Team.

The Saskatoon Valkyries and Regina Riot will have sizable representation on Football Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Football Canada announced its National Women’s Team roster this past Friday. The main roster includes 12 members of the Valkyries along with one player on the reserve list, and the Riot had seven players crack the main roster along with one player on the reserve list.

The Valkyries players that cracked the main roster include Emmarae Dale (MLB), Lauren Ferguson (OL), Alyssa Funk (OL), Haley Girolami (R), Danaye Holynski (DL), Arden Kliewer (DL), Beth Lalonde (LB), Betsy Mawdsley (OL), Ricki Obed (R), Reed Thorstad (QB/R), Ashley Viklund (OL) and Sarah Wright (RB).

Valkyries all-time great running back Sam Matheson, who is nursing an injury, is on the reserve list.

The Riot players that made the main roster include Rebekah Hove (RB), Alex Kowalski (R), Kasey McCombs (RB), Quinn Petrinchuk (DL), Hailee Raffey (OL), Shanelle Rioux (R) and Rae-Lynn Schaffer (LB). Rioux is the Riot’s starting quarterback.

Christina Andrews, who play on the Riot’s defensive line, was named to the reserve list.

Canada’s National Women’s Team will take part in the International Federation of American Football’s Women’s World Championship, which will run July 28 to August 8 in Vantaa, Finland. The United States enters the tournament as defending champions, and teams will be there from Finland, Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Germany and Great Britain.

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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Valkyries resolve remarkable

The Valkyries won their sixth WWCFL title in memory of Justin Filteau.

    The Saskatoon Valkyries had a season that could have come off the rails, but they were able to rally around an unexpected tragedy.

    The Valkyries came in with a team in 2019 capable of winning the Western Women’s Canadian Football League title for the first time since 2016.

    On May 11, the Valkyries downed the Regina Riot 38-13 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field ending a four game head-to-head skid against their provincial rivals. The Riot won the WWCFL title in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018.

    The Valkyries rolled to a 4-0 start that included winning a pre-season game in Las Vegas and had first place in the Prairie Conference locked up going into their final regular season game on June 2 against the Riot in Regina.

The late Justin Filteau, left, during a Valkyries win on May 11.

    At that moment, the unthinkable happened on the night of June 1 involving the team’s beloved defensive line coach Justin Filteau.

    Filteau was in Medicine Hat, Alta., and boarded a small American Aviation AA-5B plane with Moose Jaw, Sask., residents Jim Wilk and Kerry DePape. All three visited Medicine Hat for a bachelor party for Wilk’s son, who was marrying DePape’s daughter.

    Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed east of Medicine Hat, and all three men perished in the crash.

    Filteau, who was just 26 years of age, was supposed to fly into Moose Jaw and drive out to Regina on Sunday to coach with the Valkyries in their final regular season game against the Riot.

    The Valkyries found out about the tragedy before they hit the field that day.

    Filteau had deep ties to the football community in Saskatchewan, especially in Saskatoon where he played for the CJFL’s Hilltops (2010-14) and the Huskies (2015-17) in the U Sports ranks. He joined the Valkyries originally as a linebackers coach in 2017.

Alex Eyolfson’s leadership ability continues to grow with the Valkyries.

    He had deep ties to the provincial judo community as well and was honoured with a posthumous presentation of his black belt at is celebration of life on June 14.

    For the Valkyries, they had to deal with the fact one of the coaches held so closely in the hearts of everyone involved with the team was suddenly no longer there, when a season was in progress.

    On that June 2^nd day, it would have been understandable if the Valkyries lost that game or their season came to a crashing end. Instead, the Valkyries took the Mosaic Stadium turf that day holding hands vowing to play the rest of the season to honour their late coach.

    At that moment, the hashtag term “#ForFilteau” was born.

Sam Matheson (#22) was in prime form returning after a year off.

    The Valkyries came away with a 22-7 victory that day.

    Into the playoffs the team went. Players wore “JF” stickers on their helmets and often inscribed the “#45” Filteau wore with the Hilltops and Huskies on their uniforms.

    The team’s coaches and support staff made up “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirts, which they wore during games. They also inscribed the initials “JF” and “#45” on various spots of their clothes.

    The Valkyries players gave Filteau that exact T-shirt as a joke gift during the team’s wrap up banquet in 2017, and he loved it.

    Saskatoon opened the post-season blanking the Winnipeg Wolfpack 66-0 on June 9 at SMF Field.

Danaye Holynski (#55) impressed in her rookie season with the Valkyries.

    The Valkyries dumped the Lethbridge Steel 53-0 in a semifinal match on June 23 at SMF Field.

    Last Saturday, the Valkyries won their sixth WWCFL title with a 25-3 victory over the host Riot in Regina. Saskatoon received a pre-game message from Nancy Filteau, who is Justin’s mother, to go out and have fun.

    Following the game, the Valkyries brought Ron Filteau, who is Justin’s father, on the field for the celebrations. There was a group hug with the team, and a team picture with the trophy.

    The team also present Ron with a game ball that was signed by every member of the club from the win on June 2.

    The Valkyries had so many great storylines to help build their 8-0 overall record.

Valkyries staffers and coaches wore “Filteau’s the Worst” T-shirts.

    Quarterback Alex Eyolfson at age21 has become a leader in the image of former San Francisco 49ers great Steve Young. If one of her receivers had a drop or someone on her offensive unit had a bad play, she is there immediately talking to them to pick them up.

    In those moments, the players Eyolfson talked with got uplifted right away. It was fitting that she was named MVP of the WWCFL title game for her team.

    Star running back Sam Matheson returned after a year off to allow her body to heal. She ran in prime form and was named the Valkyries season MVP.

    Rookie Haley Girolami turned in some strong performances in the post-season as a receiver.

    The starting offensive line of right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy, left guard Ashley Viklund and left tackle Alyssa Funk were dominant in the trenches.

Members of the Valkyries offensive line push Riot players into the end zone.

    The defence was anchored by playmaking middle linebacker Emmarae Dale, while rookie defensive end Danaye Holynski emerged as a dominant force on the field.

    Long time Veterans Jaime Lammerding, Beth Lalonde and Ehjae Chan provided a steady hand on the defensive side of the ball.

    Rookie defensive back Kori Herner showed she could win at football too like she did with hockey and softball.

    Head coach Pat Barry and his staff did a marvelous job navigating the team through tough waters you don’t expect.
    Offensive coordinator Jordan Walls and defensive coordinator Wyatt Carleton shined as play callers.

Ron Filteau, left, walks to the field with Jordan Walls.

    Of course, the 2019 campaign will always be remembered as the season the Valkyries rallied to honour the memory of Justin Filteau.
    This WWCFL title win was unlike the five others the team had.

    Even now, everyone involved with the team is still dealing with Filteau’s loss in their own way, and they are at different points in the process of healing and moving forward.

    They have one more game to play. This coming Saturday at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries will host the Montreal Blitz in an exhibition game.
    It will be a curtain call opportunity for the Valkyries and their fans to salute all that the team accomplished in 2019.

The WWCFL champion Valkyries pose for a team picture with Ron Filteau.

    They have to know that somewhere Filteau is smiling with pride of what the Valkyries were able to do.

    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.