Huskies impress with sweep

Defending Canada West champs down Wickenheiser and Dinos

Goalie Cassidy Hendricks kicks out a shot for the Huskies.

Well that was definitely the definition of team effort.

            The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Women’s Hockey team was in top form on the weekend and passed a big early season test. Sitting with a 3-3 record going into the weekend, the defending Canada West champs faced a University of Calgary Dinos team that had some big additions from a season ago.

            The Dinos roster contained Canadian National team icon Hayley Wickenheiser and Russian national team standouts Iya Gavrilova and Alexandra Vafina. All three were not with the Dinos last season because it was Olympic year. Wickenheiser and Gavrilov helped the Dinos win a Canadian Interuniversity Sport title in 2012, while Vafina is in her first year of eligibility on the Calgary side.

            With that trio in the fold, the Dinos entered the weekend leading the Canada West standings with four wins and two overtime losses.

            Even with all those additions, the Huskies pulled out a sweep in a two-game series at the ancient Rutherford Rink. On Friday, the Huskies rallied from a 3-1 deficit to pull out a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory. Brown University transfer Lauren Zary potted the winner at 2:52 into extra time.

            On Saturday, the Huskies scored three times in the second period to go up 3-0 and cruised to a 3-1 victory.

            All of the Huskies forward lines and defensive pairings played strong system wise, forechecked hard and took away a lot of the passing lanes the Dinos thought they had, when they tried to work up ice.

            The hosts also played physical too. That was best shown when Huskies defenceman Brooke Mutch crushed Dinos forward Jenna Smith in the second period of Friday’s encounter.

            Mutch was given an elbowing penalty, but her team killed off the infraction. It also seemed to spark a turn of momentum in that contest.

            The Dinos led 3-1 at the time of the hit. When Mutch’s penalty was killed, the Huskies closed the second period scoring on a power play of their own, when fifth-year forward Kandace Cook tallied to make it 3-2.

Edmonton product Rachel Johnson scored another Huskies power-play goal early in the third to knot things up at 3-3 as a prelude to Zary’s heroics in the extra session.

            Kaitlin Willoughby, who was the CIS rookie of the year last season, was huge for the Dogs offensively on Friday netting her team’s first goal and collecting two assists.

The Huskies celebrate a Kandace Cook goal on Saturday.

            Cook and Zary scored again on Saturday, while Chelsey Sundby had her team’s third goal.

            Cassidy Hendricks kept adding to her reputation as a money goalie turning away 69-of-73 shots in the two contests. She also had a couple of key bailout saves on the weekend too.

            Dinos netminders Hayley Dowling and Carissa Fischer combined to turn away 60-67 shots over the two contests.

            Now 5-3, the Huskies have a bye week before traveling to Calgary to face the Mount Royal University Cougars on Nov. 7 and 8.

            NOTE – The women’s Canada West conference is using a news system for tallying points in the standings this season, which is similar to one used in the Olympics. Regulation time wins are worth three points, extra time wins two points and one point is awarded for an extra time loss. Under that system, the Huskies are currently fifth in the eight-team Canada West with 13 points.

            The same system is being utilized in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League. 

 

Football team locks up home playoff date

Keegan Arnyek (#16) returns a missed field goal for a TD.

            The U of S Huskies football team has a home playoff game in the bag.

            On Saturday, the Huskies locked up second place in Canada West with a 41-23 victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears before 3,605 spectators at Griffiths Stadium. The win was a huge bounce back game for the Huskies, who were trounced 41-8 in their previous outing at the hands of the University of Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg.

            The contest against the Golden Bears was close for a lengthy time, before the Huskies pulled away. Just past the midway point of the fourth quarter and the Huskies leading 27-17, the Golden Bears were attempting a field goal to cut the U of S lead to seven.

            The field goal was missed, and Keegan Arnyek returned the miss 116 yards for a spectacular touchdown. The return was aided by some huge blocks from Geoffrey Hughes and Mark Ingram.

            With the win, the Huskies improve to 5-2 and close the regular season traveling to Vancouver to take on the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds this coming Saturday.

            The Huskies will host a Canada West semifinal playoff game on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium.

Soccer team makes history 

 

 

Erica Hindmarsh in action for the U of S Huskies.

           The U of S Huskies Women’s Soccer team made history on Sunday.

            The Huskies captured their first playoff win downing the MacEwan University Griffins 2-1 at PotashCorp Park. Carmen Gorlick and Erica Hindmarsh scored for the Huskies, while Cara Santaga picked up the win in goal.

            With the win, the Huskies advance to the women’s Canada West final four tournament, which opens this coming Friday in Langley, B.C. The Trinity Western University Spartans host the tourney, which will include the University of Alberta Pandas and the Fraser Valley Cascades.

            The Huskies men’s soccer team cruised to a 5-1 Canada West quarter-final victory over the University of Winnipeg also on Sunday at PotashCorp Park. Brett Levis scored twice for the Huskies, while Garrett Peters, Bobbi Nicholat and Sam Whiting all had singles. Michal Bandula picked up the win in goal.

            With the win, the Huskies will host the men’s Canada West final four tournament this coming Friday and Saturday. The tourney will include the U of A Golden Bears, the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Victoria Vikes.

           

If you have any feedback on this blog, feel free to email comments to stankssports@gmail.com.

Roughriders win and 33,427 people lose their minds

Members of Rider Nation celebrate Sunday's Roughriders win

            It is amazing how a win can cure all for a short time.

            Heading into Sunday’s game at Mosaic Stadium with the Ottawa Redblacks, the faithful that make up Rider Nation weren’t sure what would happen to their Saskatchewan Roughriders. With starting quarterback Darian Durant out with an elbow injury for an extended time, Rider Priders weren’t sure what would happen to their team.

            Understudy Tino Sunseri looked like he lacked confidence and appeared visibly nervous in a 28-3 road loss to the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton back on Sept. 14, which marked the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, product’s CFL first start.

            Against the Redblacks, the Roughriders fell behind 22-10 at halftime, and the score would have been more lopsided had Weston Dressler not returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown for the hosts.

            Saskatchewan came to life in the second half and eventually forced the game to go to overtime tied up at 32-32. The equalizing score came when Sunseri, who looked a lot more confident in his second start, led a two-minute drill 78-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a one-yard run by running back Anthony Allen and a diving two-point convert reception by Dressler.

            Chris Milo kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Riders in their second possession of the shootout style overtime format.

            On Ottawa’s ensuing possession, Roughriders linebacker Brian Peters blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt by Redblacks kicker Brett Maher to preserve a 35-32 win and send the sellout crowd of 33,427 into hysteria.

            At that moment, the fans in the stands were jumping up and down, cheering and hugging the neighbours that sat beside them even if they didn’t know them. They were just happy the Roughriders won at that point in time regardless of how they team got to the end result.

            For a short time, the team’s troubles were forgotten.

Dressler is a beast

            So how fun is it to watch Weston Dressler play football?

            Rider Nation got a real treat on Sunday from the veteran slotback during the Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-32 overtime win over the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium.

            Late in the second quarter, Dressler gave the Roughriders a spark with a 78-yard punt return touchdown. He easily topped that with two plays in the second half.

            Early in the fourth quarter, the Bismarck, North Dakota, product caught a seven-yard crossing pass and turned the play into a 60-yard receiving touchdown, where he spun and ducked out of numerous tackle attempts going down the left sideline. It was arguably the most spectacular play in the CFL this season.

            In order to force overtime, Dressler made a diving catch for a two-point convert late in the fourth quarter to cause a 32-32 tie.

            On the day, Dressler caught seven passes for 125 yards, returned five punts for 103 yards and one rushing attempt for five yards, scored two touchdowns and hauled in the two-point convert. 

Huskies close to a shocker

             The University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team shouldn’t worry too much about letting this one get away.

            On Friday at Griffiths Stadium, they were in position for most of the night to pull off a monster upset over the University of Calgary Dinos in a battle for first place in the Canada West Conference. The Huskies led 24-21 at halftime and were locked in a 24-24 draw for most of the second half.

            The Dinos, who have won the last six straight Canada West titles, scored two touchdowns in the final 3:31 of the fourth quarter to pull out a 38-24 victory.

            While most of the 5,801 engaged spectators were likely disappointed about the final outcome, they also spoke with pride about the effort their team put in against the powerful Dinos (3-0).

            The Huskies (2-1) have a lot to build off of in defeat. They might get another shot at the Dinos in the post-season. 

Blades still a work in progress 

            Some of the initial optimism with the Saskatoon Blades got tempered thanks to the Prince Albert Raiders.

            The Raiders swept the Blades in a home-and-home series that opened the WHL regular season for both teams. In the second of those losses on Saturday, the Blades fell at home 3-1 to the Raiders before 6,337 spectators at the building that is still known at the moment as the Credit Union Centre.

            The Blades had trouble busting through the trapping system that the Raiders utilized. Going 0-for-5 on the power play also didn’t help the cause for the host side.

            The effort was there from the Saskatoon side. The Raiders won because they the superior team, when it came to executing systems on the ice.

            With all that said, the Blades are still rebuilding from loading up to be the host team for the Memorial Cup in 2013 and loading up to try and make a long playoff run in 2011, when they finished first overall in the WHL.

            The rebuild could still be seen from a number of moves from Monday. The Blades dealt Nikita Scherbak, who was their leading scorer last season, to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for 1997-born goaltender Nik Amundrud, a first round selection in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft and a second round selection in the 2016 Bantam Draft.

            The deal helped Saskatoon recover some of the lost high end draft picks that were traded away in 2011 and 2013 and get a goaltending prospect who will get the chance to play now.

            The team also released overage goaltender Troy Trembley and 18-year-old defenceman Ross Hnidy. The double blue still have to make some cuts, when players return from NHL camps. Saskatoon is currently carrying 14 forwards, nine defencemen and three goaltenders. 

Hilltops roll 

            The Saskatoon Hilltops improved to 3-2 after posting a second straight blowout victory.

            On Sunday, they traveled to Calgary and bombed the Colts 47-19. Things were close for a bit as Saskatoon led 17-10 at halftime. Turnovers played a key as the Hilltops intercepted four Colts (1-4) passes and recovered one fumble from the host side. Saskatoon didn’t commit any turnovers.

            After two weeks on the road, the Hilltops return home to the newly renovated and named Saskatoon Minor Football Field this coming Sunday to take on the Winnipeg Rifles for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Rifles also sport a 3-2 record after falling 43-20 last week to the defending CJFL champion Regina Thunder.

 The jinx was in Huskies women’s hockey team 

            Oops, that was a bit unintentional.

            It appears I gave the U of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team almost a mafia style kiss of death heading into the Mandi Schwartz Challenge tournament last weekend in Regina. The Huskies are the defending Canada West champs, who return most of their players from that squad. I wrote in this blog that it was perfectly fine to optimistic about their upcoming season.

            They then went winless in a pre-season tourney hosted by the University of Regina Cougars. According to the Cougars website, the Huskies fell 1-0 to the University of Manitoba Bisons, 2-0 to the York University Lions and 5-0 to the host Cougars, who fell to the Huskies in last season’s Canada West final.

            When one team gets played up in a blog like I wrote about the Huskies, that article usually finds its way into the dressing rooms of their future opponents and are used for motivation, especially given the fact not a whole lot of media coverage is given to Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s hockey in Canada.

            Due to the media cuts that have come down in Canada, teams like the Huskies women’s hockey team won’t draw a whole lot of media coverage, even with having won a conference title, due to the fact resources media companies have are stretched thin. Those teams won’t get much of a spotlight until they go to a national championship type tournament.

I just wanted to give a little recognition to a great bunch of people, who have won a conference title. I still believe the Mandi Schwartz Challenge tourney will be a blip on the radar, and the Huskies will have a memorable year in the long run.

If you have any feedback on this blog, feel free to email comments to stankssports@gmail.com.

Huskies big underdogs tonight

The U of S Huskies DBs listen to teaching points at practice.

            It is battle for first place just looking at the Canada West football standings, but realistically, it should be viewed as a mismatch.

            When the University of Saskatchewan Huskies head into their third regular season game tonight at 7 p.m. at Griffiths Stadium, they will be huge underdogs against the University of Calgary Dinos. Going in, this can’t be viewed as your typical battle between clubs with identical 2-0 records.

            Having won the last six straight Canada West titles, the Dinos are the class of the conference. So far in the regular season, they have outscored their opposition 130-14 in their two wins. Until some other team on the field can prove otherwise, the Canada West title is the Dinos to lose.

            On top of that, the Dinos have beaten the Huskies the past five times the two squads have done battle. On what is Support the Troops night in appreciation for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Huskies appear to be heading into their own Waterloo.

            During the opening week of the season, the Dinos pasted the University of Alberta Golden Bears 71-3 in Calgary. Last Saturday, the Huskies needed overtime to get past those same Golden Bears 42-41.

             On the plus side, the Huskies do have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they stomped, it would have been expected. If they pull out the upset, it would be their biggest victory in years.

            The best part about the Huskies is they are prepared by a standout coaching staff. Head coach Brian Towriss will do his best to ensure his players are put in the best positions to succeed.

            At this point in the season, that might not be enough to stop the Dinos from improving to 3-0.

            Besides the action on the football field, rising country star Jess Moskaluke is slated to perform at the tailgate party before the game. The tailgate party is set to start at 5 p.m.

Blades back at it versus the Raiders

            When the Saskatoon Blades battle the Prince Albert Raiders, how can you not get excited, if you are a local hockey fan from either community.

            Blades versus Raiders is one of those traditional WHL rivalries that doesn’t lose its lustre. The rivalry may go through fluxuations in intensity, but it never grows old.

            The two clubs face each other tonight at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert before closing a home-and-home series on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Credit Union Centre or the soon to be called SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.

            For fans in Toontown, the Blades will likely be better than the 16-51-2-3 record they put up last season. Most of the troubles in that campaign came from the fact the team had a huge turnover after playing host to the Memorial Cup tournament in May of 2013.

            There is a lot of optimism among Blades fans, but first thing is first. The double blue will try to stop the music man at the Raiders games in Prince Albert from playing “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” after tonight’s match. 

Hilltops back in old form

            Now that was more like it for the Saskatoon Hilltops.

            Last Saturday, the Toppers were on a roll in Edmonton squashing the Huskies 68-17. The win allowed Saskatoon to get back to 2-2.

            The Hilltops coaching staff was looking for one night where they could just come out on a roll. Before that win, the Hilltops fell to 1-2 on Sept. 6 falling 26-25 at home to the defending Canadian Junior Football League champion Regina Thunder, despite having led 25-3 at one point in the third quarter.

            In the win over the Edmonton Huskies, the Hilltops piled up 359 yards on the ground and 282 yards through the air. Running back Wayndel Lewis carried the ball 16 times for 274 yards and scored two touchdowns.

            Quarterback Jared Andreychuk completed 15 of 28 passes for 260 yards, four touchdown passes and one interception.

            The Hilltops return to action on Sunday, when they travel to Calgary to face the 1-3 Colts. The Colts should prove to be a test, because they are now guided by head coach Matthew (Snoop) Blokker. Blokker came over to Calgary in the off-season after guiding the Vancouver Island Raiders to seven British Columbia Football League titles in the past eight seasons.

Pulling for Smuker

            The U of S Huskies men’s hockey team has been back on the ice in exhibition action, but with one big absence anyone linked to the team wishes was not there.

            The Huskies will progress through the campaign without Cody Smuk suiting up in his #24 jersey to take up a position on a forward line.

            Shortly after the Huskies won a silver medal at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship tournament at home in March, the hard-working Saskatoon product was diagnosed with testicular cancer along with a tumour in his right lung.

            Once Smuk made his situation public, the community of Saskatoon rallied around him. During a fundraising campaign in June, over $20,000 was raised in a three-day period for the 25-year-old, who was slated to play his fifth and final year of eligibility. To date, just over $33,000 has been raised.

            Obviously, Smuk, his girlfriend Stephanie Vause and their families have gone through a number of ups and downs.

            Recently, Smuk sent a message to friends through Facebook that the battle was going good, but he was still in one of those wait and see periods.

            The former WHLer, who last played major junior with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2010, is one of the best good guys you will ever meet in sports and is known for being one of those must-have guys in the dressing room.

            Since moving to Saskatoon in July, I have been wearing my “Get Smuk’d Cancer” bracelet pretty much every day in support of Smuk.

            Here is hoping Smuk’s current wait goes by fast and victory in this battle comes sooner than later.

            For those wanting to donate to help the young man who has engaged in a few cancer fighting fundraising initiatives before being diagnosed himself, they can do so right here.

If you have any feedback on this blog, feel free to email comments to stankssports@gmail.com.