Valkyries are always fun to back

Saskatoon one win away from return to WWCFL final

The Valkyries celebrate a touchdown from Danielle Girolami (#10).

    The Saskatoon Valkyries ability to inspire is as alive as it ever was.
    The powerhouse women’s tackle football team is playing through its ninth season of existence as a member of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League. On Sunday, the Valkyries will be trying to advance to the WWCFL championship game for a seventh time, when they host the Lethbridge Steel in a league semifinal contest at 1 p.m. at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.

    The winner will face the two-time defending champion Regina Riot in the WWCFL title game on June 29 at 4 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. The Riot claimed the other WWCFL semifinal 30-8 in Edmonton on Saturday against the host Storm.

    The Storm finished the campaign with a 4-2 record including action in the regular season and playoffs, while the Riot improved to 3-3 including action in the regular season and post-season. Regina won two straight road playoff games to make the WWCFL final.

Alex Eyolfson can make plays on the run.

    The Valkyries have always captured the imaginations of their fans due to what seems like their endless their positivity. It makes you want to cheer for them.

    Their positivity transfers over to the football field as they have always played the game at a high level. They won the WWCFL title in four straight years from 2011 to 2014 and captured a fifth championship in 2016.

    They are having another memorable campaign in 2019 posting a 6-0 overall record including play in the pre-season, regular season and playoffs. The Steel enter Sunday’s clash with a 3-2 mark including play in the regular season and post-season.

    This season’s Valkyries have a great mix of veteran pros and energetic youngsters. There is a feeling on the team that everyone is important, and they all continuously strive to make each other better.

    At quarterback, the Valkyries are led by two youngsters who are already veterans at their positions playing in their fourth seasons in Alex Eyolfson and Reed Thorstad.

Reed Thorstad is a composed field general.

    Eyolfson is the WWCFL’s version of Doug Flutie. She can improvise, make plays on the fly and seemingly throw the football a mile.

    Thorstad is the pocket passer who makes reads and gets the football out quickly. With the way she sees the game, you can tell her father, Brian, coached the sport for large number of years.

    The starting offensive line includes right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy, left guard Ashley Viklund and left tackle Alyssa Funk. Viklund and Ferguson are more the newcomers of the group playing in their second and third seasons respectively.

    Mawdsley, Funk and Rakochy are all in their fourth, fifth and sixth seasons respectively. They make everything on offence go.

    At running back, Sam Matheson returned from a year off returning to a star role in her fifth season with the team. She still runs with explosiveness between the tackles and is an elusive receiver out of the backfield.

    Sarah Wright has turned into a standout in her third season running the ball and rookie Natasha Englot has made plays when she has hit the field.
    At receiver, Kelsey Murphy is the steady veteran in her sixth season. Sisters Haley and Danielle Girolami, who are in their first and second years respectively, are quickly turning into big playmakers.

Kori Herner (#27) returns an interception for the Valkyries.

    Makenna Matheson is a speedster that can leave everyone in the dust.

    The defensive line contains some of the team’s greatest veteran pros in Jamie Lammerding, who has been a career member of the squad, along with Denise Kolosky and Kendra Wilson, who are both in their eight seasons with the team.

    They helped the Valkyries flourish in their early years and continue to be welcoming inspirations for the team in the current day. On top of everything, they can still make a tonne of plays.

    Rookie Danaye Holynski has stepped in to be a solid contributor on the defensive line, while Dayna Bear has been a steady contributor in her third year.

    At linebacker, the Valkyries have one of the best trios in the country in Beth Lalonde, who is a career member of the team, fourth-year veteran Emmarae Dale and third-year standout Devyn Peters.

Beth Thomson and the Valkyries defence play as tough as ever.

    In the secondary, eight-year veteran Rienna Rueve anchors everything at safety. Shaylyn De Jong and Ehjae Chan are veteran warriors in their seventh and sixth season respectively.

    Kori Herner is the playmaking newcomer joining the Valkyries after skating for five seasons in the U Sports ranks with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team.

    Career team member Tori Giles has been sidelined by injury, but she is still hanging around the squad offering support to her teammates.

    The Valkyries again have a standout coaching staff led by head coach Pat Barry.

    The players, coaches and staff have rallied around the memory of defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away in a tragic plane crash on June 1. They have dedicated the rest of their season to Filteau, and the players have “JF” decals on their helmets.

Sam Matheson (#22) has scored lots of touchdowns returning from a year off.

    The Valkyries have made Sunday afternoons at SFM Field a great place to be. Their WWCFL semifinal contest provides one last chance to wish them well on their playoff run they hope will end in another championship.

    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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Veteran Kolosky achieves first as inspired Valkyries romp to win

Denise Kolosky returns an interception for a touchdown.

    Denise Kolosky achieved a feat at defensive end she was never able to capture as a linebacker.

    On Sunday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the eight-year veteran with the Saskatoon Valkyries hit the highlight reel with a defensive score.

    Lining up at defensive end late in the second quarter of a Western Women’s Canadian Football League quarter-final game against the Winnipeg Wolfpack, Kolosky dropped into a passing lane and picked off quarterback Rebecka Clark.

    Kolosky dashed 36 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown. It marked the first time she returned an interception for a major score in her football career.

    The score put the Valkyries up 57-0 as they cruised to a 66-0 victory.

    Saskatoon came out with an inspired effort playing for late defensive position coach Justin Filteau, who passed away tragically in a plane crash on June 1. Filteau coached the defensive line this season having previously coached the linebackers since he joined the club’s coaching staff in 2017.

The Valkyries celebrate a touchdown from Denise Kolosky (#44).

    “We all wanted to play for (Justin) Filteau today,” said Kolosky. “That little interception was for him just to show the D-line is athletic too and we can get it done.”

    Kolosky couldn’t believe how fast her pick six developed.

    “It just happened,” said Kolosky. “I caught it, and I was ‘go!’ That was it.

    “I was just thinking don’t look back. That is a huge milestone for me, a huge one. I love it.”

    During a contest where numerous members of the Valkyries had big games, head coach Pat Barry pleased that Kolosky was able to have a big moment with a defensive score.

    “I’m so happy for Denise,” said Barry. “She is one of my favourite people that I know not just in football.

Emmarae Dale (#45) nails a Wolfpack ball carrier.

    “She is such a high quality person. I really admire her. She is tough, and she is physical.

    “She is great mom to her family. Her kids are always running around here with (her husband) Colin (Kolosky). She is a great lady. I’m very proud of her.”

    The Valkyries shot out of the gate quickly in Sunday’s post-season clash. Just 64 seconds into the opening quarter, star running back Sam Matheson ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run down the right sideline to give the Valkyries a 6-0 lead.

    Just over four minutes later, quarterback Alex Eyolfson hit rookie receiver Haley Girolami on a 43-yard bomb pass to extend the Valkyries edge to 13-0.

    With 2:36 remaining in the opening quarter, running back Sarah Wright ran home a touchdown from seven yards out to put the Valkyries up 20-0. Matheson added a single from a missed field goal from 27 yards out as time expired in the first quarter to give the hosts a 21-0 lead.

Sarah Wright (#88) dashes home on a 42-yard touchdown run.

    Saskatoon proceeded to score 43 points in the second quarter to go up 64-0.

    Sophomore receiver Danielle Girolami hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarter Reed Thorstad. Matheson added her second major on a 12-yard run.

    Wright ripped of a 42-yard touchdown run. The Wolfpack conceded a safety.

    Rookie running back Natasha Englot ran in a pair of touchdowns from one and 10 yards out. Kolosky had her interception return for a major score between Englot’s two touchdowns.

    The Valkyries rounded the game’s scoring in the second half with a 31-yard punt single from Rienna Rueve in the third quarter and a 27-yard punt single from Matheson in the fourth quarter.

Rienna Rueve (#7) returns an interception for the Valkyries.

    Rueve hit seven out of nine conversion attempts.

    Wright had the biggest game of the day offensively for the Valkyries carrying the ball nine times for 120 yards to go with her two scores.

    “We were doing fairly well blocking,” said Wright. “Once we kind of got in a groove, everything was starting to fall into place.”

    Wright said it has been fun to run behind a veteran offensive line including right tackle Betsy Mawdsley, right guard Lauren Ferguson, centre Eden Rakochy, left guard Ashley Viklund and left tackle Alyssa Funk.

    “They are just trying to improve all the time,” said Wright. “It is awesome that they are doing everything they can to get us as many yards as they can.”

Members of the Saskatoon Hilltops are out supporting the Valkyries.

    Matheson had a great day as well finishing with 86 yards rushing on only five carried to go with her two scores.

    Defensively, middle linebacker Emmarae Dale topped the Valkyries with 9.5 total tackles. Linebacker Jamie Wingate had a sack, while Dayna Bear and Danaye Holynski split a sack on the defensive line.

    Rueve had an interception from her safety position.

    Defensive back Mobina Mosallat topped the Wolfpack with 8.5 total tackles.

    Barry thought his team’s performance on Sunday was a fitting way to honour Filteau’s memory. 

Sam Matheson (#22) ran in two rushing touchdowns for the Valkyries.

    The Valkyries have dedicated their season to Filteau, who was a standout at linebacker for both the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and U Sports’ University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

    “Justin (Filteau) did a lot for us,” said Barry. “To not have him there was very difficult this week.

    “I was very happy with the players today. He would have enjoyed it. Even a lot of the music we have going on right now, Justin (Filteau) loved these songs.

    “It is not an accident that they have it playing. It is pretty exciting.”

    With the win, the Valkyries, who were 4-0 in the regular season, improve their overall record to 6-0. The Wolfpack, who were 0-4 in the regular season, finish at 0-5 overall.

    The Valkyries advance to host a WWCFL semifinal game against the Lethbridge Steel (3-2 overall) on June 23 at 1 p.m. at SMF Field.

    The other semifinal features the defending WWCFL champion Regina Riot (2-3 overall) taking on the Edmonton Storm (4-1 overall) in the Alberta capital. That contest will be played either on June 22 or 23.

The Valkyries celebrate their win over the Wolfpack.

    The WWCFL championship game is slated for June 29 in Regina.

    Kolosky is looking forward to the fact the Valkyries will continue their playoff run and said it never gets old being a member of Saskatoon’s WWCFL team.

    “It is amazing the love you feel from each and every player,” said Kolosky. “All the hugs I got after my interception touchdown, it was awesome. I can’t explain it.”

    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 hit ground running in pre-season win over Storm

WWCFL season will be a sprint in 2017

Denise Kolosky (#44) and her Valkyries teammates hit a Storm tailback.

    The Saskatoon Valkyries are looking like themselves out of the gate, which will be key in what will be a lightning fast 2017 season.

    On Saturday at Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the Valkyries dumped the Edmonton Storm 56-6 in a pre-season tilt. The contest also served as a rematch from last year’s Western Women’s Canadian Football League title game, which the Valkyries won 81-6 in Lethbridge.

    Normally, the Western Women’s Canadian Football League schedule is spread a little over two months. With the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championship running from June 24 to 30 in Langley, B.C., there is a push to get the WWCFL campaign concluded a touch faster in comparison to past years.

    The Valkyries will go from their pre-season game right into a four-game regular season contests. The playoffs have been shortened as well.

Kelsey Murphy returns a punt for the Valkyries.

    The top two clubs in the four-team Prairie Conference that the Valkyries are part of will advance to a conference championship game to be held on June 3 or 4. In past years, all four teams in the Prairie Conference were automatically placed in playoffs.

    The winner of the conference title game will advance to the league final, which will be held June 10 in Saskatoon against the first place club from the three-team Western Conference. If the Valkyries return to the league final for sixth time in seven years, they will do so playing seven games on seven consecutive weekends including the pre-season, regular season and post-season.

    The 2017 schedule doesn’t contain a single bye week for the Valkyries.

    In noting how Saskatoon’s schedule plays out, it might have been even that more impressive the Valkyries utilized pretty much everyone on their 53-player active roster in Saturday’s romp of the Storm. Defensively, the Valkyries were impressive holding the Storm to 226 yards of offence.

    Most of Edmonton’s yards came from star running back Brenna Bouchard, who carried the ball 18 times for 140 yards and scored her team’s lone major in the first half.

Kendal Matheson (#25) zips downfield for the Valkyries.

    Valkyries veteran star linebacker Beth Thomson proved she can still be one of the WWCFL’s most dominant defensive players making four solo tackles, knocking down a pass and registering a sack off an edge blitz on Storm quarterback Aria McGowan. Linebacker Denise Kolosky made three solo tackles and recovered a fumble, while standout safety Shaylyn de Jong came up with an interception.

    Offensively, the Valkyries were dominant on the ground. They utilized seven different ball carriers who combined for 308 yards. They limited Julene Friesen, who is their all-purpose do everything tailback, to six carries, but she still piled up 99 yards and scored three touchdowns.

    Sophomore running back Kendal Matheson ran the ball seven times for 90 yards and scored two majors. Both her scoring runs were pretty impressive.

    On her first major late in the fourth quarter, Matheson ripped out of a number of tackle attempts by Storm players and sprinted home for a 50-yard touchdown run. Her second score was a three-yard short yardage carry, where she twisted and turned through the Storm defensive line to reach the end zone.

Beth Thomson (#2) sacks the quarterback for the Valkyries.

    Rookie running back Sarah Wright scored her first rushing major for the Valkyries running the ball four times for 49 yards.

    Only the passing game seemed to be a bit clunky for the Valkyries due to the fact they have a number of new receivers looking to build some chemistry with sophomore quarterback Alex Eyolfson and rookie signal caller Cori Thorstad. That part of the game traditionally seems to smooth itself out as the campaign moves long.

    Eyolfson did hit sophomore receiver Alyssa Wiebe for a touchdown toss in the first half. Veteran pass catcher Carly Dyck also showed more explosion and power in her route running than she had in past years. She had an impressive 28-yard catch and run touchdown, where she broke out of a couple of tackles, called back due to an illegal block penalty.

    In the kicking game, Dyck made all seven of her converts, hit field goals from 32 and 28 yards out and had a single from a missed field goal attempt from 39 yards out.

    The biggest hurdle the Valkyries will have to overcome offensively is the absence of star receiver Marci (Kiselyk) Halseth, who will miss the entire season after injuring her Achilles tendon leading up to the pre-season game with the Storm.

Carly Dyck nails a field goal for the Valkyries.

    The coaching staff has been shuffled from last season. Pat Berry moved from defensive coordinator to head coach, while former head coach Jeff Yausie shuffled into the role of defensive coordinator.

    Jordan Walls, who was the quarterbacks coach last season, assumed the role of offensive coordinator from Chad Palmer, who has departed from the team. Walls is also the big favourite to take over the role as starting quarterback for the defending Canadian Junior Football League Saskatoon Hilltops, when their campaign starts in August.

    Chris Hengen-Braun returns as the Valkyries special teams and offensive line coach.

    The Valkyries quest to repeat as WWCFL’s champs begins in earnest this coming Sunday, May 7, when they host the Winnipeg Wolfpack at 1 p.m. at SMF Field. They host their archrivals the Regina Riot on Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at SMF Field. The two teams face each in Regina on May 21.

    Saskatoon closes its regular season schedule on May 28, when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Manitoba Fearless.

    If the Valkyries progress like they have in past seasons, it would be no surprise to see them playing in the WWCFL title game on home turf on June 10.

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

Valkyries build legacy in Saskatoon

Quarterback Stacey Boldt throws a TD strike for the Valkyries.

    It feels like it was love at first site for Saskatoon and the Valkyries women's football team.
    Football has always thrived in the province of Saskatchewan way more than it has in any other part of Canada. Saskatchewan is best known as Rider Nation due to its love of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders. As a spinoff, every other level of football in the province has benefitted from strong support.
    When Saskatoon got a team in the then newly formed Western Women's Canadian Football League in 2011, one had to expect there was a good shot the club would be popular. It was still surprising to see how quickly the Valkyries found their niche and became cemented into the community.
    Women from all walks of life flocked to the club to play tackle football. The team includes a vast number of players, who participated in other sports. The team includes players who are students, teachers, nurses, business professionals, tradespeople and hold down numerous other positions in the working world.
    Jeff Yausie, who is a veteran assistant coach with the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League, was brought in early on to be the Valkyries head coach. He added a number of assistants, who mostly had backgrounds of playing football for the Hilltops or the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, to provide steady guidance.
    With a coaching staff that could oversee a junior or a university program, the Valkyries took off and have won all four WWCFL titles that have been awarded to date. The fans came out early on in that first year, and they haven't gone away.
    Exposure was also aided thanks to the fact the WWCFL plays almost all its games during the months of May and June. The Saskatoon sports scene experiences a lull during that time period, which has allowed the Valkyries to capture some extra attention.

Valkyries LB Aly Bell (#25) tackles Wolfpack FB Jana Taylor.

    On Sunday, the Valkyries opened their 2015 campaign hosting the Winnipeg Wolfpack. After playing their home games for four seasons at Griffiths Stadium on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan, the Valkyries moved to the recently renovated Saskatoon Minor Football Field. A new massive clubhouse complex is also being built for the Saskatoon football community at the park that was formerly known has Gordie Howe Bowl.
    The Valkyries are used to playing in front of crowds of about 1,000 people, and a large gathering of supporters close to that number were present at SMF Field.
    The defending WWCFL champs entered the campaign without a couple of key players. Quarterback Candace Bloomquist, who led the team to their four league titles, retired after the 2014 championship win. Running back Julie David, who was the club's all-time leading rusher, is off exploring Europe and won't be with the Valkyries this season.
    Those departures raised some question marks, but those question marks went away early in the season opener. Returning after a one-year absence, tailback Julene Friesen showed she hadn't lost any of her blazing speed opening the scoring on a 46-yard romp.
    Stacey Boldt, who takes over as the Valkyries starting quarterback, hit veteran receiver Marci Kiselyk for 30-yard TD strike for a second major. Just over 40 second later, Valkyries fourth-year linebacker Denise Kolosky blocked a punt and Kiselyk recovered the ball in the Wolfpack end zone for another score.
    Friesen zipped home on a 62-yard TD run on a pitch out and Boldt ran another score in from 17 yards out to give the Valkyrie a 32-0 lead just eight minutes into the contest. The hosts romped to a 75-0 victory, which was also their 17^th straight win at home.

Receiver Carly Dyck hauls in a Valkyries TD catch.

    The veterans weren't the only ones that turned heads. Gritty second year running back Sam Matheson had ran in three scores before halftime. Receiver Carly Dyck, who is in her first year with the team, contributed a couple of nice plays in the fourth quarter scoring on a 28-yard run and a 40-yard reception.
    The Valkyries are calling this their "drive for five" season, and you have to like their chances of accomplishing that goal. They will likely be strong for the foreseeable future.
    They host annual tackle football camps for girls and the team's staff and players are active in helping run girls flag football in the city. Some of those girls will likely play for the Valkyries one day.
    Women's tackle football is still in its beginning stages, but the Valkyries are already thriving with a rich legacy. It is a story that fits right into the football lore of Saskatchewan.

    If you have any comments about this blog, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com. To see more photos of the Valkyries regular season opener, check out Twitter @StanksSports.